The Wisconsin softball team stayed hot Sunday afternoon by sweeping host Illinois (3-13 Big Ten, 22-25 overall) in a doubleheader at Eichelberger Field in Champaign. The nightcap marked the 12th win in 14 games for the Badgers (9-9, 25-21), who clawed their way back to a .500 conference record for the first time since April 9. More importantly, the sweep ensured the team a berth in the Big Ten Tournament, its first postseason bid since 2002.
Riding the momentum of their first victory earlier in the day, the Badgers jumped out to an early lead in game two by plating two runs in the first inning. UW senior shortstop Kris Zacher opened the inning with a single to left field. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, she came around to score when UW freshman first baseman Katie Hnatyk singled. After UW senior catcher Boo Gillette's double, Hnatyk scored on a groundout by UW freshman third baseman Joey Daniels.
The Illini cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth on freshman third baseman Shanna Diller's homer, a solo shot to right field, closing the gap to a run. But that was as close as the Illini got.
Wisconsin added an insurance run in the sixth, with Hnatyk once again providing the firepower. Hnatyk muscled a solo shot over the wall in left-center field for her seventh homer of the season. Hnatyk went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI on the day to lead the Badger attack.
The three runs produced by Wisconsin's offense were more than enough behind the solid pitching of senior starter Katie Layne. Layne allowed just one run on four hits in picking up the 3-1 victory, evening her record at 8-8.
In Sunday's opening game, a 7-3 win, Wisconsin jumped on the Illini early and never looked back. UW opened the scoring in the second inning with a bang, as Daniels singled to right and scored on senior left fielder Anastasia Miller's tenth home run of the year.
The Badgers extended their lead to 5-0 with three more runs in the fourth. After Daniels walked, singles by Miller and freshman designated hitter Ricci Robben loaded the bases. After a ground ball led to a force out at the plate, UW sophomore second baseman Athena Vasquez singled to drive in a run. Zacher followed with a single of her own, plating two more runs.
Illinois got on the board in the fourth with junior right fielder Laura Zobrist's RBI single and closed to within a pair of runs at 5-3 in the sixth inning on senior catcher Julie Balicki's two-run homer. But Wisconsin answered back with two runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach. After a pair of walks, Robben, who was 2-for-4 on the day, laced a two-run single to right.
Along with Robben, Zacher and Miller led the UW offense. Miller was 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI, and Zacher was 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Eden Brock (16-8) went the distance to pick up the win, allowing three runs on five hits.
The Badgers also looked impressive earlier in the weekend by splitting a set with the No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes (12-5, 44-10 overall). They defeated Iowa 6-3 in Friday's contest, before dropping Saturday's game, 5-1.
Wisconsin will return to action Tuesday at 4 p.m., when it hosts Valparaiso in a double-header at Goodman Diamond.
