Softball Wraps Up Fall Season With a Split
October 09, 2004 | Softball
Freshmen Katie Hnatyk and Ricci Robben each hit solo home runs to help the Wisconsin softball team defeat UW-Parkside 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Goodman Diamond and earn a split of its two games on the day. UW fell to Winona State 5-4 earlier in the day.
With the 1-1 mark on the afternoon, the Badgers complete their fall season with a record of 6-3.
In the nightcap, Robben drilled a round-tripper deep over the fence in straight-away center to give Wisconsin a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
The Rangers knotted the game and nearly took the lead in the ensuing half-inning. With runners on second and third and two away, Katrina Homa blooped a hit just behind the third base bag. Meloney Strohbusch scored from third, but an alert Athena Vasquez rushed over to pick up the ball and combine with catcher Boo Gillette to nab Kim Dean at the plate trying to score the go-ahead run.
UW-Parkside loaded the bases with one away in the fifth, but Badger starter Eden Brock was able to work out of the jam to keep the score tied. After Wisconsin left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Hnatyk took matters into her own hands in the sixth, leading off the frame by ripping a Kristen Brestan offering over the fence in left to give UW the lead.
Brock worked around a pair of two out singles in the seventh to secure the win and finish 5-0 on the fall season. She scattered nine hits, struck out three and walked one. Robben and Sam Polito each collected two hits for the Badgers offensively.
Four errors proved costly for Wisconsin in its loss to Winona State in the opener. Single unearned runs in the fifth and sixth innings helped the Warriors escape with the win.
A single run in the first and two unearned tallies in the third inning off UW starter Katie Layne helped Winona State take an early 3-0 lead. The Badgers cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the third as Vasquez had an RBI double and Joey Daniels followed with an RBI single.
Wisconsin took a 4-3 lead with two runs in the fourth. Anastasia Miller scored from second on a throwing error to tie the game and Polito gave the Badgers the lead with an RBI single to center. However, the Warriors were able score the two runs off reliever Megan Smith and UW miscues. Smith allowed just two hits and struck out four in her four innings pitched but was still saddled with the loss.
The Badgers outhit Winona State 10-6 in the game, led by Polito going 3 for 4. Daniels and Stephanie Chinn added two hits apiece.
Wisconsin opens the 2005 season Feb. 11-13 at the Kajikawa Classic in Phoenix, Ariz.
