April 21, 2010
Box Score
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MADISON, Wis. - A dominating performance from senior pitcher Letty Olivarez propelled the Wisconsin softball team to a 5-1 win over South Dakota in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. Olivarez tied a school record with 17 strikeouts, while walking zero and giving up just four hits and one earned run.
Junior Jennifer Krueger recorded a school record of her own, breaking the single-season mark for stolen bases. She stole her 20th base of the season in the bottom of the fifth after reaching initially on a slap single.
Olivarez set her career high in the top of the sixth, when she threw her 13th strikeout. Olivarez threw one more strikeout in the sixth and three more in the seventh to reach her total of 17. Former Badger Andrea Kirchberg also struck out 17 batters against Ohio State on March, 21 2003.
Olivarez struck out at least two batters in every inning. She also struck out the side in the second and the seventh, and struck out three batters in the third.
Wisconsin came out swinging, taking an early lead and scoring three runs in the bottom of the first.
Senior Katie Soderberg led off with a double to left field and advanced to third on a sacrifice by Jennifer Krueger. Molly Spence was then walked, bringing freshman Shannel Blackshear to the plate with runners on the corners.
On a 2-0 count, Blackshear nailed homer to left center, putting Wisconsin up 3-0. Blackshear has hit five home runs on the season.
Olivarez struck out eight of the first 10 batters, rendering the Coyotes scoreless in the bottom of the third.
The Badgers scored two more in the bottom of the third.
Spence was walked for her second straight at bat, and stole second with Blackshear up. Blackshear was then also walked. With runners on second and third, Whitney Massey then hit a RBI double to shallow left, sending Spence home and making it 4-0, Wisconsin. With two runners on and one out, Karla Powell then hit a sacrifice fly to deep left, driving Blackshear home for a 5-0 lead.
