ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst University softball team faced a tough opponent in 23rd-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater on Thursday afternoon, falling in both games of a doubleheader at home. The Warhawks' combination of timely hitting and dominant pitching proved too much, as the Bluejays were shut out in both contests, dropping Game 1 by a 7-0 score and Game 2 by an 8-0 margin.

In a pair of games dominated by Warhawk pitching and power, Elmhurst struggled to find momentum at the plate, managing just six hits combined over 14 innings. Despite some standout individual performances, the Bluejays couldn't break through against Wisconsin-Whitewater's talented pitching staff. Elmhurst falls to 5-14-1 on the season, while the Warhawks improve to an impressive 18-2.

Gianna Amundsen stood out for the Bluejays in Game 1, recording two of Elmhurst's five hits, including a double. Danielle Hood, Ali Mockenhaupt, and Grace Hayes each added a hit in the opener. In Game 2, Chiara O'Leary picked up Elmhurst's only hit, while also starting in the circle and working into the sixth inning before being relieved. On the defensive side, the Bluejays turned a double play in each game and limited extra-base damage early on before the Warhawks opened things up late.

The opening two innings featured a solid pitchers' duel between Elmhurst starter Emma Lenczewski and Warhawk ace Josie Hammen. Both teams went scoreless early, but the tide turned in the third when Whitewater struck. A sacrifice fly from Kendra Kostroski plated the game's first run before Karina Weidemann launched a three-run homer to left field, quickly making it 4-0.

The Bluejays had a few opportunities with hits sprinkled throughout the middle innings, including Amundsen's pair of hits, but couldn't string anything together against Hammen, who tossed a complete-game five-hit shutout with five strikeouts and no walks. In the seventh, the Warhawks tacked on three more runs—an RBI single from Courtney Kohnle followed by a two-run single from Weidemann, who finished with five RBIs in the game. Lenczewski was tagged with the loss, despite some strong early innings and five strikeouts of her own.

In the second half of the doubleheader, Elmhurst kept things close through three innings as O'Leary worked around trouble and the defense supported her with clean plays. The Warhawks finally broke through in the fourth with back-to-back RBI doubles from Emily Giese and Destiny Peshia.

The sixth inning unraveled quickly for Elmhurst. A bunt single by Lauren Ybarra scored one, followed by a two-run double from Grace Wickman and an RBI single by Kohnle to cap a five-run frame. Peshia added the exclamation point in the seventh with a solo homer—her third hit and third RBI of the game.

The Bluejays were stifled at the plate again, managing just one hit—a single from O'Leary—and were held scoreless by Whitewater's Madyson DeBennett and Brooke Hock, who combined for a one-hit shutout. O'Leary battled through five and two-thirds innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs before being relieved by Kylie Hoyh.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays take on Carroll in a CCIW doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11 at Salt Creek Park in Elmhurst.

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