Wisconsin Downed 5-0 in Nightcap
May 02, 2004 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team was unable to mount a substantial offensive threat as it fell to Iowa 5-0 in the nightcap of Sunday's doubleheader at the Goodman Diamond. Sunday's loss is the Badgers' fourth straight overall and their seventh in conference.
With the loss the Badgers fall to an even 27-27 on the season and 5-13 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes move to 37-19 overall, and are 14-4 in the conference.
Eden Brock worked six and two-thirds innings in the pitcher 's circle for the Badgers, surrendering five earned runs on eight hits while striking out five Hawkeyes. Brock's record now falls to 11-12.
The Hawkeyes got to Brock early, scoring three runs on two hits in the bottom of the first. Iowa got its first run when Stacy May knocked a double to left, scoring Natalie Johnson, who led-off the frame with a walk. A fielder's choice off the bat of Kylie Murray allowed Amanda Hentges to score, and May touched home on Ali Arnold 's RBI single.
Brock buckled down in the second, striking out two of the three batters she faced in the frame, but Iowa struck again in the third, tacking on one more, again with the help of Stacy May. May started the frame with a single and scored on Arnold 's RBI double.
The Hawkeyes forced Brock out of the game with two out in the sixth when Elisha Huse sent a double to the fence in right center, scoring Arnold from first and giving Iowa the 5-0 edge. Megan Smith came on in relief and forced Emily Gerlick into an inning-ending line drive to short.
The Badgers got hitters aboard in the fourth and fifth innings with leadoff singles in each frame, but could not push a runner into scoring position until the sixth. Kaitlin Reiss worked a walk to start the inning and was lifted for pinch runner Nicole Simmons. Simmons moved to second on Stephanie Chinn's sacrifice, but was left stranded following a strikeout and an inning-ending fly ball.
Sam Polito led Wisconsin with two hits in the game while Boo Gillette recorded one base-knock off of Iowa's Arnold. Arnold worked a complete seven innings, striking out four and walking two, improving her record to 16-9.
Wisconsin is next in action Thursday, May 6, when it travels to Illinois-Chicago in its final non-conference matchup of the season. The Badgers conclude their season at home against Minnesota with single games on May 8 and 9.
