From Underdogs to World Series Champions: UW-Whitewater’s Impressive Journey

UW-Whitewater has earned a spot in the Division III World Series after a challenging journey back to the eight-team tournament for the first time since 2016. The Warhawks, ranked No. 5 in the latest D3baseball.com national poll, faced No. 16 UW-La Crosse in the NCAA Super Regional on their home field.

The Warhawks needed to win two games to secure their spot in the World Series, and they did just that with an impressive sweep on Saturday. Cade Berendt and Jack Hagen pitched complete games while the Whitewater hitters combined for 16 runs and 24 hits. Berendt struck out 13 and allowed just three hits in an 8-0 victory in the opener, while Hagen, a freshman, scattered eight hits and allowed no earned runs in an 8-2 victory in the title game.

Junior first baseman Eli Frank and junior leftfielder Matt Scolan played key roles in both games, with Frank hitting a two-run homer in the second inning of Game 2 and adding a sacrifice fly in the third, while Scolan hit a three-run homer in the eighth to seal victory. The Warhawks advance to the World Series with a record of 40-9, set to begin on Friday in Eastlake, Ohio, with their opponents yet to be determined.

John Vodenlich led Whitewater to victory this season after guiding them to two national titles back when he was still playing as an undergraduate student at Whitewater University Wisconsin (now UW-Whitewater) back then. Despite finishing second place behind WIAC rival UW-La Crosse during regular season playoffs but managed to win against them by winning four straight matches including Game 5 that was held at La Crosse’s field .