Badger Softball Splits At UW-Green Bay
April 23, 2002 | Softball
The University of Wisconsin softball team split a doubleheader at in-state rival Wisconsin-Green Bay on Tuesday, winning game one, 4-1, before dropping a 5-4 decision in the second. The two teams will meet again on Wednesday, May 1, for a two-game set at UW 's Goodman Diamond.
Sophomore Michelle Skarr, starting in right field for the Badgers (26-16 overall), led the squad with three runs batted in for the twinbill, going 3-for-6 at the plate including a two-run homer to center in the opener. Frosh Katie Layne tossed the complete seven innings in both contests. The Phoenix, which improved to 6-30 with the split, was led by junior Amber Techlin's 4-for-7 performance.
In game one, Kristin Zacher's third triple of the season put Wisconsin on the board in the top of the first, scoring Kerry Hagen from second. UWGB answered in the bottom of the third, with Brenda Baumann coming in on an RBI single by Jenny Pingel to make it 1-1.
The Badgers were unable to manage another hit until rallying with three runs in the top of the sixth. After Meghann Reiss walked with two outs, Boo Gillette scored her from first with a double to the fence, putting the UW back on top, 2-1. Two pitches later, Skarr's two-run blast gave the Badgers all the insurance they would need for the victory. Layne tallied nine strikeouts while giving up five hits and just one walk to the Phoenix.
Green Bay took the early lead in game two, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back doubles by Techlin and Michelle Kaminski, followed by Stephanie Hansen's RBI single. The Phoenix threatened again in the second, loading the bases before Wisconsin got out of trouble with a play at the plate.
Held in check through the first five frames, Wisconsin surged ahead in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs off of four hits to take a 4-2 advantage. Zacher walked to lead off the inning, and moved to second on a single by Reiss before Skarr drove her home with a single to right. A bases-loaded single by Renee Benell evened the score at 2-2. Kerry Hagen drove in the inning's final two runs with her second double of the game, scoring Karen Michel and Benell on the play.
Defensive disaster struck in the bottom of the sixth as three Badger errors helped Green Bay tie the game at four apiece. Hansen, who started the game at right field for the Phoenix before relieving Bridget Paul on the mound, forced UW to go three and out in the top of the seventh. In the final half inning, a fielding error by Benell put UWGB leadoff hitter Connie Koceja on first, and she came home for the game-winning score as Techlin sent a rocket to the centerfield fence for her second double of the game.
Wisconsin returns home to continue Big Ten competition Friday. The Badgers play host to No. 21 Iowa on Friday at 6 p.m. and on Saturday at noon before facing Northwestern for a doubleheader beginning at noon on Sunday.
