Feb. 24, 2012
Box Score
• FSU box score | SIU box score
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A pair of home runs provided the Wisconsin softball team the offensive spark it needed, propelling the Badgers to a 12-3, six-inning win over Southern Illinois Friday evening at the Citrus Classic Spring College Games in Orlando, Fla.
The victory gave the Badgers (3-3) a split on the day's action after Wisconsin dropped a 6-2 decision to Florida State (12-0) earlier in the day.
Wisconsin put itself on the scoreboard first against the Salukis (4-4) in the second inning by playing a little bit of small-ball. Stephanie Peace reached base on a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maggie Strange before scoring on an RBI double by Mary Massei.
The Badgers turned up the heat in the third inning with a pair of home runs. Whitney Massey led off the inning with a solo shot and Molly Spence followed Massey with a two-run, homer to give UW a 4-0 lead after three innings.
Clutch two-out hitting in the fourth inning extended Wisconsin's lead to 6-0. Southern Illinois fought back in the top of the fifth with three runs on two hits, but the Badgers' offense wasn't done.
Patience in the batter's box and timely hitting allowed the Badgers to score six runs on just two hits, giving them a 12-3 lead after 5.5 innings of action. Three outs from pitcher Cassandra Darrah in the bottom of the sixth sealed the win for the Badgers.
Darrah made the start on the mound, pitching the first three innings before giving the ball up to Amanda Najdek in the fourth inning. Darrah would return to the mound in the fifth, pitching the final out of the inning and clinching it in the sixth.
Darrah pitched 4.1 innings against SIU, allowing no runs and giving up just three hits. Najdek pitched 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits.
Wisconsin tallied season-highs with 12 runs on 11 hits, including 12 RBI and 21 total bases. Massei paced the Badgers' offense, going 3-for-5 with four RBI. Massey went 2-for-2 with two RBI and three runs scored, while Spence was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
The Badgers rebounded for the win over SIU after falling to No. 25 Florida State, 6-2, in the day's first game.
Wisconsin jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning, combining a two hits with a pair of FSU errors for the two-run lead.
After five solid innings of work, starting pitcher Meghan McIntosh was replaced by Darrah. Darrah held off the Seminoles in the sixth inning, but FSU's offense broke loose in the seventh. FSU scored six runs on four hits, including a grand slam by Erika Leonard, to take a 6-2 lead.
UW was unable to overcome the Seminoles in the bottom of the inning, suffering its third loss of the season.
McIntosh made the start, but Darrah suffered the loss. McIntosh pitched five complete innings, holding the Seminoles scoreless on three hits. Darrah pitched the final two innings, allowing six runs on four hits.
Five Badgers recorded hits in the contest, including a pinch hit single by Maria Van Abel in the bottom of the seventh.
Wisconsin continues action at the Citrus Classic Spring College Games on Saturday, Feb. 25 when it plays St. John's and Maryland. First pitch against St. John's is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. (CT), while the game against Maryland is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (CT). Fans can watch UW's game vs. the Terps live on ESPN3.com.
