Badgers Sweep Doubleheader From UW-Green Bay
September 25, 2004 | Softball
Freshman Katie Hnatyk's two-out single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh helped the Wisconsin softball team post a 4-3 win and complete a doubleheader sweep of UW-Green Bay Saturday afternoon at Goodman Diamond.
UW won the first game by a score of 5-0. The Badgers improve to 5-2 on the fall season with the two wins, while the Phoenix fall to 3-4.
The Badgers jumped out to an early lead in the opener as Hnatyk came through with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the first, lining a two-run single to center.
Wisconsin stretched its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth as Anastasia Miller led off the frame with a triple and pinch runner Melissa Trainor came in to score two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Athena Vasquez.
UW closed out the scoring with a pair of runs in the sixth. With two on and nobody out, Vasquez brought home Miller with her second double of the game. Freshman Joey Daniels followed with an RBI groundout that scored Sam Polito.
The early offense proved enough for the Badger pitchers. UW starter Eden Brock earned the win, allowing just two bloop singles in her four innings of work while striking out four. Megan Smith picked up the save, allowing two hits and striking out one in tossing the final three innings.
Polito went 3 for 4 at the plate for Wisconsin, while Vasquez and Hnatyk had two hits and two RBI apiece as UW outhit the Phoenix 11-4.
UW-Green Bay jumped on Badger starter Katie Layne in the nightcap, as Michelle Kaminski doubled home Rebekah Oestreich with the game's first tally in the top of the first.
However, UW answered back with a trio of runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. With runners on the corners and one out, Beth Gauden stole second and Phoenix catcher Kate Sullivan's pickoff throw to third was errant allowing Miller to come in to score. Vasquez continued her hot day at the play as with the bases packed and two outs she ripped a single to center scoring a pair.
Meanwhile, Layne settled in after the first inning, facing the minimum over the next three frames. She surrendered three hits and struck out two in her four innings pitched.
Ricci Robben came on to pitch for the Badgers in the fifth and after tossing a scoreless frame UWGB recorded three doubles and took advantage of a UW error in the sixth to tie the score. The Phoenix had runners at second and third with two away and a chance to take the lead, but Brock replaced Robben and got a groundout to keep the score knotted at three.
Brock retired UWGB in order in the top of the seventh and the Badgers loaded the bases with one away in the bottom half. Kristin Kosobucki got Boo Gillette to ground into a fielder's choice forceout at the plate for the second out, but Hnatyk recorded the game-winner when her blooper landed safely just outside the reach of Kaminski's glove at second base.
Hnatyk and Stephanie Chinn collected two hits apiece to pace the Badgers, who held a slim 7-6 advantage in the hit column. Brock earned both wins of the doubleheader to improve her fall record to 4-0.
Wisconsin will wrap up its fall season at home on Saturday, Oct. 9 when it hosts UW-Parkside and Winona State in a triangular beginning at 11 a.m.
