The University of Wisconsin softball team (22-15, 6-7 Big Ten) opened their series in Seattle, Wash. with an unfortunate 3-2 walk-off loss in the 10th inning on April 4 to an impressive Washington (29-9, 7-2) team. They were unfortunately unable to continue their newfound offensive success from the Iowa series, losing all three matches and finding themselves eighth in the conference.
Game one
Game one of the series featured quite the pitching duel, with only one run crossing the plate on either side after seven innings.
Graduate student pitcher Gabi Salo pitched all 9 innings for the Badgers. In her 180 pitches thrown, she struck out five batters and walked four, while giving up eight hits and just two earned runs, including the walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th.
Redshirt senior catcher Emmy Wells had a stellar day defensively in game one to help keep the game close for the Badgers. The first in the bottom of the second, making a diving tag on the potential go-ahead run on an attempted Washington sac fly. Another great play was made in the bottom of the 6th when she was able to throw out a runner attempting to steal second base to keep the Huskies out of scoring position.
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Game two
The second game was the opposite for the Badgers. While the balls were flying off the bats, resulting in ten hits for the Badgers, the pitching was unable to contain the Huskies’ hitters, with all but one of the Badgers’ pitchers giving up two runs.
Multi-hit performances from Wells, outfielder Brooke Kuffel and pitcher/infielder Kendra Lewis gave some hope for the Badgers, but leaving nine runners on base and a four-run fifth inning from Washington squashed any hope left for Wisconsin, losing the second game 6-2.
Game three
The Badgers came into the series finale ready to do damage, as they led for all of the first four innings, all thanks to third baseman Hilary Blomberg, who mashed two solo home runs.
Unfortunately for Wisconsin, though, Blomberg would be the only hitter to score runs in the final game, and apart from a two hit performance from left fielder Molly Schlosser, the Huskies pitchers were able to ace the rest of the Badgers lineup, while scoring six unanswered runs to close the series with the sweep.
Wisconsin looks to turn things around in their upcoming series against St. Thomas, who, like the Badgers, have dropped their last three games.
St. Thomas rallies behind senior shortstop Laken Lienhard, who has an on-base percentage of over 1.000, so pitching will have to be on point against this hard-hitting Tommies lineup.