Badgers Roll Over Rangers in Round Robin
October 08, 2005 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team opened its fall season with a convincing 12-0 win over UW-Parkside Saturday at the Goodman Softball Complex. Junior Sam Polito belted two triples for five RBIs to support junior Megan Smith who yielded just three hits over four innings in the circle.
The Badgers jumped on the board for three runs in the second inning when Polito ripped a bases-loaded triple into deep right center to drive in Alexis Garcia, Valyncia Raphael and Beth Gausden.
Wisconsin tacked on to its lead with a six-run third when the Badgers loaded the bases with no outs following singles by Katie Hnatyk and Garcia, sandwiched around a walk to Stephanie Doyle. Sophomore Joey Daniels and senior Kaitlin Reiss both drew walks off Rangers pitcher Megan Shimkus to push across a pair of runs, and Raphael flied out to deep left, driving in Garcia.
With two down and runners on first and second, Polito stepped up and delivered her second triple of the game, dropping the ball into the gap in right center, scoring Reiss and Daniels. After Athena Vasquez was hit by a pitch, sophomore Kaite Hnatyk legged out an infield single to score Polito.
The Badgers added three more in the fifth when back-to-back singles from Lynn Anderson and Heather Ruchim and a hit batter filled the bags with no out for Katie Hnatyk who dropped a single to right to bring home Anderson. Megan Missaggia followed with a sharp bases-loaded single into left-center, driving in Ruchim and Liz Klemp to se the score at the 12-0 final.
Smith struck out four batters and walked just one and she and freshman Theresa Boruta combined for the shutout. Boruta fanned a pair in one inning of relief.
The Badgers are next in action against UW-Green Bay at 3 p.m. in the final game of the Wisconsin Round Robin.
