Badgers Take Quick Lead, Beat Nittany Lions
April 26, 2003 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team jumped out to a 3-0 advantage with its first seven batters and went on to defeat Penn State 4-2 on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Goodman Diamond. Playing in front of family members on Parents' Day, the Badgers (15-24 overall, 4-12 Big Ten) earned their first home win of the season and extended Penn State's streak of splitting every conference series this year.
Sophomore Kris Zacher led off the game with a sharp single through the left side. Senior Mandy Liles moved Zacher to second base with a sacrifice bunt and freshman Emily Friedman was hit in the leg to put two on for Wisconsin.
Senior Erin Barnharst, who was 2-for-3 on the day, started a trend by sending a hard liner back to the pitcher who struggled with it, allowing an infield hit to load the bases. Junior Diana Consolmagno set down an infield grounder that the shortstop bobbled. Consolmagno took first on the error and Zacher scored. Junior Meghann Reiss followed with a similar play to first. Reiss sent a ball down the right field line that Erin Norton juggled in the dirt and Friedman scored.
Leading 2-0 with the bases loaded and one out, junior Sheena Padovan knocked down the fourth-straight infield liner. Padovan sent the ball back to the pitcher and PSU starter Tina Skelly threw home for the force out. Catcher Erica Greenberg fired to first for the double play, but the ball bounced off the tip of Norton's glove and rolled into shallow right field. Consolmagno took advantage of the third Penn State error and sped home to give Bucky a 3-0 lead.
Penn State answered in the bottom of the first inning after a walk and a wild pitch moved Kelley Galigher to second base for Norton. Norton blasted a double into left field, scoring Galigher to put the score at 3-1. UW's starting pitcher Katie Layne struck out two in the first, closing the inning with a K with Norton on third.
The Badgers put their fourth run on the board in the top of the third. Barnharst walked with one out and Consolmagno crushed the ball into deep right center field. Barnharst flew from first base and Greenberg successfully blocked the plate, but the ball arrived wide and late. Barnharst averted Greenberg and touched home to make it 4-1.
Barbie Pierce led off Penn State's portion of the third inning with a double to left. Gina Bianchini walked and Galigher's single to right scored Pierce and moved Bianchini to third. With two on and one out, Layne left the game after striking out three. Senior Andrea Kirchberg took the mound to retire the next two batters.
Penn State threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning with runners in scoring position and two outs. Representing the winning run, pinch hitter Katie Stauffer awaited a 3-2 pitch from Kirchberg. Stauffer tipped the first payoff pitch foul and Kirchberg responded by painting the inside corner of the plate for the K. Kirchberg struck out three batters, earning the win by throwing the required four innings.
The Badgers face Ohio State in doubleheader action Sunday starting at noon. Wisconsin will recognize its three seniors: Erin Barnharst, Andrea Kirchberg and Mandy Liles. The games will be broadcast on UWBADGERS.COM. Live stats will also be available on UWBADGERS.COM.
