May 12, 2010

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Wisconsin rallied to force extra innings and put up five runs in the top of the 10th inning against Minnesota, but the Golden Gophers fought back with six runs of their own in the bottom of the 10th to take a 10-9 thriller in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.

The Badgers took a 9-4 lead in the top of the 10th, sending 11 batters to the plate.

With one out and a senior Letty Olivarez on first, Kendall Grimm put a bunt single down. Junior Ashley Hanewich then singled off the pitcher to give UW a 5-4 lead. Junior Jennifer Krueger then singled through the right side to make it 6-4. After senior Katie Soderberg reached on a fielder's choice, freshman Molly Spence hit a bases-clearing double to make it 9-4.

With the hit, Spence now holds Wisconsin's single-season RBI record at 41. She broke the mark of 38 set by Katie Hnatyk in 2007.

Minnesota rallied though with six runs in the bottom of the inning. The first two batters reached before Malisa Barnes hit her second home run of the day. After a single and a strikeout, Kari Dorle homered to right field to tie the game.

Freshman Meghan Mcintosh came on in relief of Olivarez, but gave up a single to pinch hitter. Alison Murphy. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, before a throwing error allowed Sammie Howard, who was pinch hit for by Murphy but re-entered, to advance to third. The game ended on a walk-off single by Whitney Erickson.

On the day, Olivarez threw a career-high 9.1 innings and tied a school record with 17 strikeouts.

The Gophers scored in the first inning, using an RBI double from Alex Davis to score leadoff batter Abby Rehberger, who reached on an infield single and moved to second on a Badger error.

The Badgers answered right back in the top of the second, taking a 2-1 lead.

With one out, freshman Whitney Massey doubled to left center and took third as senior Letty Olivarez reached on an error by Gopher shortstop Alex Davis. After a stolen base by Olivarez and a strikeout, the Badgers had runners on second and third with two out. Freshman Kendall Grimm stepped in and laced a doubled to left field to give UW the early lead.

After a scoreless third, Minnesota tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth as Malisa Barnes led off the frame with a home run to left field.

Grimm came through for UW with another two-out hit in the top of the sixth inning.

Massey drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Olivarez. Karla Powell then pinch hit and grounded out to second to move Massey to third. Grimm then stepped in and singled through the left side to drive in her third run of the day, a career high.

Minnesota battled back though to take a 4-3 lead after six innings.

The bases were loaded with no outs as the first three batters reached on a double, a walk and a hit by pitch. A walk to Heidi Carls then brought in the tying run. The Badgers almost escaped further damage as Olivarez recorded back-to-back strikeouts, but Tina Watts drew a bases-loaded walk to plate the go-ahead run.

Trailing 4-3 going into the seventh, Wisconsin tied it up with another clutch hit.

Krueger led off the inning with a walk. After a strikeout by Soderberg, Spence grounded back to the pitcher to move Krueger to second. Freshman Shannel Blackshear then drew a walk and Krueger moved to third as the ball got away from Minnesota catcher Kari Dorle.

Massey then stepped in and singled through the left side to plate Krueger and tie the game at 4-4. The Badgers had a chance to take the lead as they loaded the bases, but Abby Gregory, pinch running for Blackshear, was tagged out as she tried to score from third on a wild pitch.

Notes
The Badgers fall to 3-3 in extra inning games this season ... it was the longest game for UW in terms of innings since April 18, 2009, when it lost 6-5 to Ohio State in 11 innings ... Katie Soderberg (6) and Molly Spence (5) both set career highs in at-bats ... Whitney Massey and Letty Olivarez tied career highs in runs scored with two each ... Jennifer Krueger and Kendall Grimm tied career highs with three hits each ... the Badgers left a season-high 13 runners on base