Badgers Fall 1-0 to Minnesota in Season Finale
May 09, 2004 | Softball
In the final game of its 2004 season, the Wisconsin softball team fell 1-0 to Minnesota on Sunday afternoon at Goodman Diamond. UW left seven runners on base in the contest, including leaving the bases loaded twice.
The Badgers finish their season with a 29-28 record overall and a 6-14 mark in conference. The Gophers wrap up their regular season at 33-22 and 10-10 in Big Ten play.
Eden Brock got the nod in the pitcher's circle for Wisconsin, scattering five hits while striking out three and walking none in her 14th complete game of the year. Brock finished with a 12-13 record and a team-best 1.71 ERA on the year.
For Minnesota, Piper Marten was equally effective, striking out eight Wisconsin batters and walking five and allowed just one hit, a single to Emily Friedman in the fourth. Marten improves her record to 21-12 with her seventh shutout of the season.
The Gophers got to Brock in the fifth when Katie Meyer began the frame with a single through the left side of the infield and advanced to third on a fielder 's choice and a single. Meyer broke the tie as she came in to score on Tonya Mitchell's infield single.
Despite managing just the one hit, the Badgers had several chances in the game, leaving seven runners on, including five in scoring position. Wisconsin 's first threat came in the top half of the second when two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with two out, but the Badgers were unable to push across a run. Wisconsin left the bases full again in the fourth, following two walks and a single off the bat of Friedman.
Even though it commited four errors in the game, Wisconsin did see some superb plays in the field, led by catcher Boo Gillette who threw out Rachel Keeney attempting to steal in the second inning. Athena Vasquez also made a stellar defensive stop at third base to cut down a potential insurance run.
Wisconsin will not qualify for the Big Ten tournament even if it does finish in a tie for eighth, as both Michigan State and Penn State both hold tiebreaker advantages over the Badgers.
It also marked the final game in the career of UW's lone senior Diana Consolmagno. The New York native finished her career having played in the third-most games in school history.
