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2016 WIAC Championship Website

Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) allowed just one hit in a 2-0 victory over UW-La Crosse Saturday at Gelein Field in Eau Claire to propel the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team to the title game of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship.
 
The win lifts the Warhawks to 27-12 while the Eagles drop to 26-13. The tournament uses a double-elimination format so UW-L will play again at 2 pm Saturday for an opportunity to advance to the championship game. UW-W is 3-0 in the tournament and will have two opportunities Sunday to capture the tournament title and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship.
 
The first two innings featured four strikeouts, two by each team, and no hits.
 
Michayla Swanson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) became the first baserunner of the game, singling through the left side of the infield in the top of the third, but the Warhawks stranded her at first and the score remained 0-0.
 
The Warhawks got a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the fourth with two outs but were unable to capitalize.
 
UW-W finally broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth. Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) led off the inning with a single down the right field line and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Kaemerer (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way West). After an out, Amy Ricci (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) doubled to center to give the Warhawks a 1-0 lead.
 
Camardo's no-hitter was finally broken up in the sixth on a close call at first, but that would be the only hit the Eagles would get.
 
Nikki Mikosz (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) hit a one-out double in the top of the seventh and was replaced by pinch runner Kayla Seymour (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West). Seymour came around to score on an infield single to give the Warhawks an insurance run and a 2-0 lead.
 
Camardo finished off the Eagles with three fly outs in the bottom of the seventh to earn her 16th win of the season.
 
The one-hitter is the first since April 15 last season when Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) one-hit UW-Oshkosh.
 
The first, and potentially only, championship game will take place tomorrow at Gelein Field at 10 am. The Warhawks will play either Oshkosh, Eau Claire or La Crosse.
 
The Warhawks have won the WIAC Tournament the past three seasons and seven times in the tournament's 30 year history.