With spring approaching quickly, the UW softball team could not help but treat itself to a double scoop of softball Sunday. The Badgers ended their two-game confrontation with the Buckeyes of Ohio State and arrived home with a split instead of a scoop. The Badgers split the series moving to 1-3 in the Big Ten and 19-16 overall.
The first game of the doubleheader was a classic pitcher's duel. Badger sophomore Sara Gonzales allowed only four hits and struck out five, but gave up five walks through six innings. A few errors early in the first inning hurt UW as Gonzales walked senior first basewoman Beth McAbier who then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman outfielder Christina Douglas hit a sharp comebacker to Gonzales, but her throw was wide off freshman first baseman Tara Hamilton. McAbier was able to come around and score while Douglas advanced to second on the play. The Buckeyes had runners at the corners with two outs, but the Badgers got Douglas at the plate as she attempted to score on a double-steal to end the inning.
The game was relatively lax offensively, as the first hit of the game did not come around until the fourth inning. No runs were to come in that inning, but a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Buckeyes with one out in the fifth. Freshman utility Jamee Juarez hit into a slow-rolling groundout to score OSU's second and final run of the game. The Badgers had three hits, no runs and one error in the game.
The second game treated the Badgers to their first win in Big Ten play thanks in part to an offensive explosion in the first inning. UW plated three in the bottom of the first to sprint out to an early lead. They were able to stave off the Buckeyes to win the game three to two. Junior pitcher Katie Layne earned the win for the Badgers as she pitched five and one-third innings, giving up six hits, one run and a pair of walks and strikeouts.
After scoring just three runs in their first three conference games combined, the Badgers matched that total in the first inning alone. The Badgers relied on playing small ball to get things going, then cashed in by going big and getting some extra base hits. Freshman outfielder Sam Polito opened the bottom of the first with a bunt single then moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt.?? She was later plated by junior shortstop Kris Zacher's ringing double off the top of right field fence. Junior catcher Boo Gillette made it 2-0 when she followed suit with a double of her own, scoring Zacher. The Badgers' offensive output was too much for the Buckeyes, who pulled their pitcher after only one-third of an inning.
This road trip was slightly more successful than the previous one for the Badgers, when they lost both games of a two game set against the Nittany Lions of Penn State. The Badgers lost Saturday's game at a count of three to two and Friday's game two to one. The Badgers tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh opening the inning with a leadoff walk. That marked the end of the PSU's starting pitcher Missy Beseres' day, as they turned to a reliever. A sacrifice bunt moved up the Badgers' baserunner to second but Penn State got a strikeout and a lineout to secure the win. Penn State outhit the Badgers eight to two and stranded six baserunners, compared to three for the Badgers.
The Badgers return to action Tuesday with their game against Illinois-Chicago at Goodman Diamond and will have a double-header Wednesday against Loyola. The Badgers will look to improve their record in the next few days and will have a chance to improve their conference record next weekend as they take on Northwestern and later Michigan State.
