The Whitewater Whippets will face off against the Lake Country Lutheran Lightning at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. The last three games Whitewater has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Saturday, Whitewater needed a bit of extra time to put away Lakeside Lutheran. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with an 8-6 win over the Warriors. While the Whippets didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-11), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Whitewater's victory was truly a team effort as six different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Sydney Schilt, who went 2-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI. Another was Payton Taylor, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one run.
Meanwhile, Lake Country Lutheran started off well but failed to capitalize on an early lead against Catholic Central. They took an 11-6 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Hilltoppers on Thursday. The defeat continues a trend for the Lightning in their meetings with the Hilltoppers: they've now lost six in a row.
Grace Sonnleitner spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered six earned (and five unearned) runs on 11 hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Aliza Uttech and Kierstyn Black did some serious damage despite the final result: Uttech got on base in three of her four plate appearances with three runs and one stolen base, while Black went 1-for-2 with three RBI and one double. Uttech has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last three times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Katelyn Meulendyke, who went 1-for-3 with three runs.
Whitewater has been performing well recently as they've won eight of their last ten matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 9-5 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.8 runs over those games. As for Lake Country Lutheran, their loss dropped their record down to 2-7.
Monday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Whitewater hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .317. However, it's not like Lake Country Lutheran struggles in that department as they've averaged .322. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
