Badgers Fall to Buckeyes, 10-6
April 30, 2006 | Softball
A five-run fifth inning proved costly to the University of Wisconsin softball team as Ohio State rallied for a 10-6 victory in game one of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Goodman Softball Complex.
Game two was canceled due to the rain-delayed start of the first game.
After trailing 5-3 through four frames, the Buckeyes (35-18, 11-5 Big Ten) posted a four-hit fifth inning to take the lead for good. They tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh to hand the Badgers (21-21, 5-10) their second straight loss.
Kim Reeder, who came in relief in the fourth inning, picked up her 15th victory for the Buckeyes, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three. Junior Eden Brock (17-12), meanwhile, lost for the second straight day, giving up 10 runs on 14 hits for the Badgers.
OSU opened up scoring in the top of the first when Megan Schwab 's RBI single drove in Nycole Koyano to put the Buckeyes on the board, 1-0.
Wisconsin retaliated with some offense of its own in the bottom of the second, as catcher Joey Daniels doubled and Alexis Garcia belted a two-run homerun to take the 2-1 lead. Ohio State starting pitcher Jamee Juarez gave up the inning's second double to Kaitlin Reiss before being pulled.
Courtney Pruner took over duties on the mound only to give up a three-run home run to Athena Vasquez, the second batter she faced, allowing the Badgers to extend their lead to 5-1.
Ohio State began to whittle the Badger lead in the top of fourth. Pruner started the inning with a lead-off double and moved to third base on a passed ball. Juarez walked to first and was promptly driven in by the next batter, Douglas, who hit a two-out single to leftfield to drive in Pruner. Stacy Hibma followed with a single to bring Juarez home and draw the Buckeyes to within two.
The Buckeye offense exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth. Vanderink led off with a single, Pruner drew her second walk of the day and Carder singled to left to load the bases.
With only one out, Baker notched an RBI single to center drive in a run.
With the bases still loaded, Juarez's RBI single tallied one run but Carter also scored on an errant throw to home, allowing OSU to take a 6-5 lead. Douglas grounded out but drove in Baker and Juarez scored on wild pitch, ending the damage and pushing the Buckeye lead to 8-5.
UW mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fifth as Katie Hnatyk led off the inning with a triple, then scored following a balk by Reed.
However, Wisconsin's effort fell short as Ohio State added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to ice the victory.
The Badgers conclude their regular season next Saturday and Sunday at home vs. Iowa.
