More than just a pitcher

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-Whitewater) baseball team has had an impressive start to their 2023 season, with a record of 17-3 as of March 31. Following a 2-2 series split against No. 16 Trinity University (Texas) in their opening games, the Warhawks have been on a roll, winning their last 15 games in a row.

UW-Whitewater's recent success continued as they opened Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play against UW-Stout on March 29 and 30. In this four-game series, the Warhawks swept the Blue Devils, with one standout performance coming from sophomore pitcher Michael Hilker Jr.

In the final game of the series on March 30, Hilker Jr. took the mound for UW-Whitewater and delivered an exceptional outing. The right-handed pitcher came close to throwing a no-hitter, retiring the first 25 batters he faced before allowing a hit in the top of the ninth inning. In total, Hilker Jr. threw an impressive 93 pitches, striking out an impressive 17 batters during his outing.

Hilker Jr.'s dominant performance earned him recognition within the conference and beyond. He was named WIAC Pitcher of the Week for his efforts in the series against UW-Stout. With his impressive start to the season, Hilker Jr. has solidified his role as a key contributor for the Warhawks' pitching staff as they continue their pursuit of a successful campaign in the WIAC and beyond.

As of March 31, UW-Whitewater is ranked as the No. 2 team in the D3baseball.com Top 25 poll and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division III poll. The team's next doubleheader is scheduled for Monday, April 3, against UW-Oshkosh.