Badgers Post 3-2 Mark in Opening Weekend
September 21, 2004 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team posted a record of 3-2 during its opening weekend of competition of the fall season last weekend at the Chicagoland Classic.
The Badger pitching staff was especially effective, allowing a total of only five runs over the course of the five games.
Two hits proved to be enough offense for UW in its first game of the tourney Friday night as it defeated Bradley 1-0. Freshman Joey Daniels' RBI single in the top of the sixth inning brought home Kris Zacher with the only run of the contest. The lone tally proved to be enough support for sophomore pitcher Eden Brock who allowed just three hits in picking up the complete-game win.
Loyola-Chicago was able to get past the Badgers for a 2-1 win in Wisconsin's opening game Saturday. The Ramblers scored twice off senior starter Katie Layne in the second inning to take the early lead. UW got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Zacher led off with a triple and scored to batters later on a sacrifice fly by Daniels. However, Loyola, which held a 6-5 advantage in the hit column, was able to hold off scoring threats by the Badgers in each of the final three innings to pick up the win.
UW responded in its second game Saturday, earning a 4-0 win over Western Illinois. Freshman pitcher Ricci Robben went the distance in picking up the shutout victory. Boo Gillette got the Badgers on the board in the third when she singled home Zacher for the 1-0 lead. Wisconsin tacked on three more runs in the fourth as Zacher brought two runners home and Sam Polito added an RBI single.
Sunday's opener saw the Badgers come out swinging as they pounded out 10 hits on their way to a convincing 7-1 win over Northern Iowa. Daniels and Gillette each had two hits and two RBI, while Polito and Anastasia Miller added two hits of their own. Brock made the offensive output stand up, carrying a shutout through the first six innings on her way to getting her second win of the tournament.
UW kept the offense rolling in its final game of the weekend, ripping 11 hits. However, the Badgers were only able to tally a single run and Valparaiso scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to hand Wisconsin a 2-1 loss. Bucky took the lead in the fifth as Nicole Simmons, who came on as a pinch runner for Kaitlin Reiss, scored on an RBI single by Polito. Sophomore Megan Smith pitched well for the Badgers, allowing just two hits through the first six innings. But the Crusaders were able to collect a pair of runs on three hits in the bottom of the seventh to rally for the win.
Wisconsin is back in action at 11 a.m. this Saturday when it plays host to UW-Green Bay in a doubleheader at Goodman Diamond.
