Feb. 20, 2010
UW vs. Long Island: Box Score PDF | Box Score HTML
UW vs. Florida Gulf Coast: Box Score PDF | Box Score HTML
MIAMI, Fla. -- The Wisconsin softball team recorded its first win of the season with a thrilling, 5-4 eight-inning victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon at the Blue & Gold Felsberg Memorial in Miami, Fla. The Badgers' victory came after dropping game one of the tournament, 8-2, to Long Island.
Tied at four in the eighth against Florida Gulf Coast, the tie-breaker rule was used putting sophomore Jordan Skinner at second base. Freshman Kendall Grimm, who had a career-high three hits in the game, led off with a bunt single to move Skinner to third. Following a steal of second by Grimm, senior Katie Soderberg singled up the middle to give the Badgers the go-ahead lead.
The Eagles had a chance in the bottom of the inning with a runner on third and no one out, but a lineout to Skinner was followed by a walk, a popout to freshman Shannel Blackshear at first base and a strikeout by Badger relief pitcher Letty Olivarez to end the game.
The Badgers struck early against Florida Gulf Coast with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Skinner delivered the big hit as she drove in junior Jennifer Krueger and freshman Whitney Massey with bases loaded single, the first two runs batted in of her career.
The Eagles tied it up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on a home run by Jessica Gary and an RBI double Hayley O' Mara.
Florida Gulf Coast added two more runs in the bottom of the third as Mariah Fernandez launched a two out, two-run double to left field.
Wisconsin inched back with a run in the top of the fourth. It started with leadoff singles by Skinner and freshman Kendall Grimm. After a sacrifice bunt by senior Katie Soderberg moved the runners to second and third, junior Ashley Hanewich hit pinch-hit, RBI double to bring in Skinner.
After two scoreless innings, the Badgers notched things up in the top of the seventh.
Massey hit a one-out single and fellow freshman Molly Spence followed with a walk. Freshman Shannel Blackshear then hit a long fly ball to centerfield that enabled both runners to advance a base. Sophomore Karla Powell then hit a soft liner near first base that Eagles pitcher Catherine McDaniel fielded. McDaniel picked it up and tried to make the tag, but Powell dove around it to reach safely and score Massey from third.
Olivarez threw 4 1/3 innings of relief to get her first win of the year. She struck out a season-high seven batters, while yielding one hit and no runs.
In the win, Wisconsin set season highs in both runs scored with five and hits with 11.
The victory came on the heels of the Badgers' tournament opening loss to Long Island.
After the Blackbirds scored in the top of the first, the Badgers took their only lead of the game with two runs in the bottom of the inning. After three of the first four Badger hitters reached via walk, Massey was at bat when Long Island starter Blaire Porter was called for an illegal pitch. Massey followed it up with a single to bring in the second UW run of the inning.
Long Island then scored in four of the final six innings, including three runs in the second, to open up the tournament with a victory.
The Badgers' best chance to score additional runs came in the fourth inning when they had runners on first and second with one out, but a groundout to the pitcher and a strikeout ended the threat.
Wisconsin wraps up play at the Blue & Gold Felsberg Memorial on Sunday when it plays two more games. At 8 a.m. (CT), the Badgers face Bethune-Cookman, then face Florida International at 10 a.m. (CT).
