The Wisconsin softball team's historic struggles against powerhouse Michigan continue after being swept by the No. 2 ranked Wolverines with a 9-1 defeat in five innings in game one and a 2-1 loss in game two.
With the wins, Michigan (12-2 Big Ten, 44-4 overall) maintained its perfect record in Madison. The Wolverines are now 18-0 in games played at UW and dominate the all-time series over Wisconsin with a 30-4 advantage.
The Badgers, (6-10, 26-21) however, made the nationally ranked team work for those wins. Wisconsin gave Michigan everything it could handle, but two deadly innings for the Wolverines' offense were enough to secure the sweep.
In game one, it was a seven-run fourth inning that buried the Badgers into an insurmountable hole.
The inning began with a throwing error by sophomore second baseman Whitney Massey, allowing Michigan's sophomore second baseman Ashley Lane to reach first base. Freshman catcher Caitlin Blanchard followed with a single.
With two runners on, Dorian Shaw hit a ball hard that went right under the glove of freshman shortstop Stephanie Peace. Peace was charged with the costly error that allowed both runners to score, adding to the two runs that Michigan pushed across in the first inning.
Later in the inning, senior designated hitter Alycia Ryan extended the damage with a bases clearing triple, putting the Wolverines up 7-0.
Sophomore Meghan McIntosh replaced freshman Amanda Najdek in the circle, but first batter McIntosh faced singled to shallow center, allowing yet another Wolverine to slide into home.
After issuing two straight walks, Najdek re-entered the game. With the bases loaded, Najdek walked in Michigan's ninth run, before striking out the next batter, ending the inning.
All seven of Michigan's runs in the fourth were unearned.
The Badgers answered in the bottom half of the fourth, when senior centerfielder Jennifer Krueger scored the lone Wisconsin run on junior designated hitter Karla Powell's single to left field.
The Badgers held Michigan to a scoreless fifth inning to give themselves one last chance.
However, Michigan's senior All-American Jordan Taylor had other plans. She struck out the side and improved her record to 21-3.
In front of one of their largest crowds of the year, the Badgers entertained the fans with a pitcher's duel in game two.
""I wish we could have a crowd like this all the time,"" Massey said. ""It really pumps us up.""
Freshman pitcher Cassandra Darrah was brilliant from the start for UW, scattering 12 hits and striking out eight batters in a complete game.
UW head coach Yvette Healy was proud of her freshman's performance.
""She did a really great job,"" Healy said. ""She was tough. She really battled and got herself out of some jams.""
The Badgers' offense wasted no time getting on the board. Freshman left fielder Mary Massei led off the first with a double to center. Krueger reached after being hit by a pitch. With two aboard, Powell stepped up to the plate and sent the ball to center.
However, after miscommunication on the bases, both Krueger and Massei became caught in a pickle. After a lengthy rundown, Massei was tagged out and Krueger slid into third safely.
Healy attributed her team's youth to some of the base running mishaps.
""It's heartbreaking a little bit,"" Healy said. ""But some of it is they're young and they need to make better decisions.""
Michigan's standout Taylor came in to relieve the rattled sophomore pitcher Stephanie Speierman, after Speierman recorded just one out.
Sophomore third baseman Shannel Blackshear drove in the only Wisconsin run of the day with a sacrifice fly to center.
Darrah's success continued from the circle as she held the Wolverines scoreless until the fifth inning when Michigan scored its only two runs of the afternoon, including the eventual game winning run.
Although the Badgers proved they can compete with the top teams, Darrah said it is still frustrating to end in defeat.
""It's frustrating because they're No. 2, and we were that close.""
