Softball drops out of NIC after loss to Notre Dame
September 22, 2002 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team fell to Notre Dame, 3-1, in the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Championship Sunday morning in Moline, Ill. The Badgers close the 2002 NIC with a 4-1 record.
Notre Dame got on the board early with a run in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Andria Bledsoe doubled to center field. Andrea Loman singled to score Bledsoe and the Irish took the lead.
Liz Hartmann gave the Irish a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning with a solo shot over the left field fence. The Badgers answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run and nearly tied the game.
With one out, Sheena Padovan nailed a Heather Booth pitch that rode the left field line. ND left fielder Nicole deFau went to field it, but it bounced off her glove and Padovan took third. Anna Jones hit a ground ball to third and Loman misfired to first. Jones reached second on the overthrow and Padovan scored. With two outs on the board, rookie Kaitlin Reiss knocked the ball into shallow center field. Jones rounded third and slid for home, but couldn't avoid the tag for the final out.
Notre Dame added its third and final run in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a passed ball with runners on the corners. In the final inning and a half, neither team put anyone on base.
Wisconsin continues its fall schedule this Saturday in the Goodman Diamond Fall Invitational. The Badgers face UW-Green Bay at noon and UW-Parkside at four in Madison, Wis.
