The women's softball team soared over UW-Green Bay in the first game of its doubleheader Tuesday. But the team only flew so high, as it came crashing down by the might of the Phoenix in the second game.
The Badgers (7-5 Big Ten, 26-16 overall) dominated in the first game against Green Bay (2-8 Horizon League, 6-30 overall) with a final score of 4-1, but they dropped a close second game, 5-4.
Wisconsin capitalized early in the first of the series when freshman shortstop Kristin Zacher tripled to score senior Kerry Hagen from second. Green Bay rallied back in the third inning and a single to right field by sophomore Jenny Pingel brought Phoenix senior outfielder Brenda Baumann home.
UW suffered a dry spell until the sixth inning, when freshman catcher Boo Gillette scored sophomore infielder Meghann Reiss. Sophomore rightfielder Michelle Skarr hit her first career home run, scoring two Badgers and bringing the score to 4-1.
The Phoenix leapt to the challenge of the second game, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning. Junior catcher Amber Techlin and freshman infielder Michelle Kaminski had back-to-back doubles, followed by freshman pitcher Stephanie Hansen's RBI.
Wisconsin fought back in the fifth inning, with Skarr driving home Zacher. Sophomore Renee Benell hit a single with the bases loaded to even the score at 2-2. Hagen then stepped up to the plate, scoring freshman Karen Michel and Benell. However, the Badgers could not muster any more runs and failed to stop Green Bay as they earned two more from Techlin and Kaminski to tie the game up at 4-4.
Three Badger errors in the bottom of the sixth assisted Green Bay in its late rally, as the Phoenix tied the game by the seventh. A Benell error put UWGB senior outfielder Connie Koceja on first, and she later scored off a Techlin double, clinching the game for the Phoenix.
The Badgers will next face Iowa April 26-27 at home.
