On a sunny Sunday afternoon in front of a record crowd of 1,097 at the Goodman Diamond, the Badgers split a double-header with Purdue. Wisconsin (3-5 Big Ten, 21-13 overall) fell to the Boilermakers (4-5, 24-26-1) 4-3 in the first half and edged out a 6-5 win in the second game. Both teams rallied in the final innings of each game, but both came up just short.
In the first game, trailing 4-0 after Purdue's Brooke Baker had shutout the Badgers through the first six innings, the Wisconsin bats awoke from their slumber. Junior shortstop Lynn Anderson, junior catcher Joey Daniels and senior centerfielder Sam Polito put up back-to-back-to-back one-out singles to load the bases for the Badgers best hitter, junior right fielder Katy Hnatyk. Hnatyk, who hit two homers off of Baker back in 2005, plated a run on a ground out.
As the tying run, senior first baseman Athena Vasquez ripped a double to center, which was misplayed by PU's centerfielder Christina Trauger. But with Vazquez in scoring position, and the hot-hitting Ricci Robben on deck, sophomore first baseman Alexis Garcia grounded out to first base to end the threat and the first game.
Freshman pitcher Letty Olivarez pitched 4.2 innings, allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits and four walks, while striking out three. Sophomore Leah Vanevenhoven came on in relief and allowed one earned run over 2.1 innings. Olivarez said that she felt there was much she can improve on for her following outings.
""I started off really well, but I think they took advantage of my mistakes,"" she said.
One of those mistakes was a changeup that Boilermaker star DH Katie Mitchell belted for a two-run homerun in the top of the fifth, her 10th of the season. Olivarez then yielded a single and a double, before UW head coach Chandelle Schulte yanked her for Vanevenhoven.
While Purdue was able to capitalize on the Badgers' miscues in game one, game two saw the exact opposite play out. With two on in the top of the third and the Badgers trailing 2-1, Purdue committed three errors and allowed another base hit, which led to the Badgers plating four runs in the inning. An error by PU second baseman Alicia Spack was the key blunder on the Vazquez squeeze bunt attempt, allowing both Polito and Daniels to score. Also that inning, the Badgers were able to knock out Boilermaker starter Ashley DiDomenico, brining Baker back in for a relief appearance.
After tacking on a run and leading 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Badger starter Eden Brock allowed two singles. Vanevenhoven came in to face lefty Ashley Hall and she singled to center, one of Hall's four hits of the game. Olivarez then came back in for the save, forced a double play and closed out the game, after allowing one more run to score.
Olivarez said she does not let the pressure in coming in for a relief appearance get to her.
""I try to ignore it,"" she said. ""There is a little bit, but I try to let that go.""
Schulte said that her offense came up a little to late in the first game, but used the momentum in that final frame in the second half of the double header.
""Honestly, I just think it's their mentality. They know they're running out of time,"" she said. ""I'd like to start that in the first inning, but I guess if I had that I could bottle it.""
Robben, who was in the DH spot for the day, combined to go 4-for-6 on the day with two runs and two RBIs. Polito went 3-7 for the day, extending her season-high Badger hitting streak to nine games.
""I just realized it's my last season to play and it's do or die right now, so whatever happens happens,"" Polito said.
The Badgers continue the Big Ten season tomorrow, when they take on Indiana in a double-header starting at 11 a.m. at the Goodman Diamond.
