The Wisconsin women’s softball team (10-1 overall) continued their good start to the season in Orlando this weekend at the 2013 Citrus Classic. The team won all six games over the three-day span, matching up against Boston University (1-4) and Georgia Southern (7-7) each day.
Wisconsin set the tone for the tournament in their first game. Lead by junior pitcher Cassandra Darrah, the Badgers opened the six game series against Georgia Southern Friday afternoon. Defense proved to be the difference in the game, as Darrah threw the team’s first no-hitter since 2001, when Andrea Kirchberg completed the same feat.
She also recorded nine strikeouts and three walks. On the offensive side, senior outfielder Kendall Grimm sparked the momentum and went 2-for-3.
The Badgers continued the momentum into their second game against Boston scoring two runs in the first inning, and a whopping nine in the second. The Terriers would go on to score three runs, but it was not enough to get out of the whole they dug for themselves early on. Senior pitcher Meghan McIntosh ended with five strikeouts and four walks.
Wisconsin started the day off with a bang, beating BU 9-1. The scoring explosion began in the third inning following RBI’s by senior outfielder Whitney Massey and freshman infielder Stefanni LaJeunesse. The scoring would continue into the seventh inning when the Badgers put the exclamation point on the game by scoring five runs.
This, coupled with a tremendous pitching performance again by Darrah, gave UW the easy win.
Freshman pitcher Taylor-Paige Stewart was in the pitchers circle for Wisconsin the second game of the day against Georgia Southern. Stewart would pitch a complete game and record eight strikeouts in the shutout victory. The game was scoreless until the fifth when both teams scored twice. Wisconsin would break the gridlock the next inning following home runs by Massey and senior infielder Shannel Blackshear.
The success continued for UW into Sunday. The Badgers beat Georgia Southern 6-4 Sunday morning, and Boston 5-1 later in the day.
Darrah sustained the excellent start to her season, pitching another complete game against Southern. Wisconsin was down early for the first time of the tournament, but was able to battle back behind a 3-for-4 batting performance by Grimm.
Darrah earned her sixth win of the season and her record now stands at 6-0.
The sixth and final game of the weekend was a lot of the same for Madison and Boston, as UW continued the surge behind great pitching performances. This time the team rallied behind McIntosh. She gave up no earned runs and retired eight batters. The offensive push was lead by junior outfielder Mary Massei who was 3-for-4 with two RBI’s.
The 10-1 start for Wisconsin marks its best in school history, proving promising for the future of the teams success this season.
The win Sunday afternoon is the teams ninth straight, tying the school record for most consecutive wins. Also, Massey broke the school record for hitting her 37th career double, the most in school history.
