The offensive struggles continued for Wisconsin (5-3) in day two of the ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge, as it lost to Louisville 5-0 and defeated North Carolina State 2-1 Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.
Louisville (6-1) pitcher Megan Hensley nearly no-hit the Badgers. The Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the first inning and then scored two more runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth inning while managing to shut down the Badger offense.
Wisconsin broke up the no-hitter in the seventh inning on a single by junior outfielder Chloe Miller, which allowed senior infielder Ashley Van Zeeland to advance to second after her leadoff walk. UW loaded the bases with two outs but were unable to score.
Senior pitcher Taylor-Paige Stewart went five innings for the Badgers, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five.
Sophomore Mariah Watts relieved Stewart and allowed a run on a wild pitch. Junior Kirsten Stevens shut down the Cardinals in the seventh inning. Louisville out-hit Wisconsin 11-1.
The first inning of game two looked like more of the same for UW. The Badgers loaded the bases with two outs but were unable to score.
A home run by Hanna Sommer in the second inning then put the Wolfpack up 1-0.
The Badgers tied the game and then took the lead in the top of the third inning. A walk by sophomore infielder Kelsey Jenkins and a sacrifice bunt by Van Zeeland, followed by two Wolfpack errors allowed Jenkins to score the first Badger run. Later in the inning, an RBI single by junior outfielder Sara Novak scored Miller to give UW the lead for good.
Stewart pitched a complete game, allowing one run, on two hits, while striking out eight.
Wisconsin finishes play in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Sunday with a rematch against North Carolina State at 11:30 a.m.
