The Wisconsin softball team (8-4 Big Ten, 24-11 overall) took two of its three games against Illinois this weekend, winning in an 8-0 shutout Saturday and splitting a doubleheader Sunday at Eichelberger Field.
A victory Saturday extended the Badgers’ winning streak to nine games. Their last loss came April 1 against the Northwestern Wildcats.
Sophomore pitcher Cassandra Darrah earned her 15th win of the season and 17th complete game in Wisconsin’s record-setting win.
The Fighting Illini were unable to capitalize on six hits, leaving seven runners stranded on base over the course of the game.
Wisconsin scored first in the third inning with two runs and added to their lead with another two runs in the fifth inning and four in the seventh inning.
The Badgers’ defense contributed to their seventh shutout of the season. The team committed no errors in seven innings of play.
The first game of Sunday’s twinbill went to Illinois, whose six, eight and nine batters combined to go 6-for-9, getting half of the Illini’s 12 hits.
Illinois took advantage of a walk by Darrah and error in the fourth to put together a four-run inning, going ahead 5-1.
The Badgers countered in the fifth inning with two runs, taking advantage of three consecutive walks and a two-RBI single to center field by freshman designated player Marissa Mersch.
Three runs in the bottom of the fifth for the Illini turned out to be just enough to fend off a four run badger comeback attempt in the seventh inning, which left the score standing at 8-7.
Wisconsin’s record-breaking nine-game win streak was ended by the loss, and happened to be the seventh game within the last month for that was decided by just one run.
A 10-7 victory in the nightcap was paced by sophomore right fielder Mary Massei, who hit three home runs to capture the individual single game home run record for the Badgers.
Junior third baseman Shannel Blackshear, sophomore first baseman Michelle Mueller and sophomore shortstop Stephanie Peace also homered, helping Wisconsin to set the single game team home run record as well.
Massei’s leadoff homer gave Wisconsin a short lived lead in the first, before the Illini countered in the bottom of the inning and took a 2-1 lead in the second.
The Badgers’ sophomore right fielder added her second home run of the game in the third, tying the score up at two-all.
Blackshear and Mueller both homered in the fourth, giving Wisconsin a lead they would not relinquish.
Another home run by Massei contributed to a five run sixth inning for the Badgers, which was assisted by two Illini errors.
Peace homered to score Wisconsin’s last run in the seventh, before Illinois’ four run comeback fell short in the bottom of the inning.
The Badgers’ return home to Goodman Diamond next Saturday, April 21 to face Penn State in a doubleheader at noon.
UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
