WAUKESHA, Wis. - Challenging nonconference matchups can often serve as motivation for a young, hungry team to take its game to a higher level.
The Carroll University softball team maintained that aggressive, focused approach as it lost to No. 13-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 3-0 in the opening game of a nonconference doubleheader at Kilgour Field on Thursday afternoon.
It was the third shutout loss and fourth to a nationally ranked opponent for the Pioneers, who dropped to 15-14 overall.
Senior right-fielder Haley Morelli went 3-for-4 and drove in all three runs for traditional national powerhouse UW-Whitewater, which improved to 24-7 overall.
Morelli drove in what proved to be the winning run on a two-out RBI double in the top of the third inning and added a two-out, two-run home run in the fifth for the Warhawks, who had six hits in the showdown. Junior left fielder Mallory Klotz collected two hits and scored two runs.
Freshman right-hander Bella Matthias pitched a five-hitter with seven strikeouts and three walks en route to the complete-game victory.
Matthias had a no-hitter working through three complete innings before yielding a lead-off single to sophomore catcher Veronica Rodriguez (South Bend, Ind.) in the bottom of the fourth.
Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two singles to provide a spark for Carroll, which stranded seven baserunners - including four in scoring position.
"We fought hard every step of the way," said Rodriguez, who currently leads the team with a .403 batting average. "Coming in, we weren't really intimidated and just tried to play our style of game. Even though we aren't ranked, we're a good, hard-working team and showed that throughout the day. When we play together, we have the potential to compete with anyone. That's all that really matters at this point of the season.
"I just attempted to do my part to help the team so it was great to be able to get a few hits to pump everyone up. Knowing my teammates had my back, it was all about hitting with confidence and trying to make the most of the situation. Normally, when that happens it carries over but it just didn't happen this time around. It was a tough night but we hope to pull everything together and turn things around heading into some big conference games this weekend."
Senior first baseman Kelly Strasser (Waterford, Wis.), sophomore second baseman Maggie Erdman (Jefferson, Wis.) and freshman left fielder Haylee Arroyo (Mayville, Wis.) each added a hit for the Pioneers, who had runners on first and second three times over the course of the final three innings and struggled to deliver a big hit.
Freshman right-hander Amanda Osterhus (Munster, Ind.) took the loss, scattering six hits with nine strikeouts in going the distance.