March 10, 2012

• USD Box Score  |  Nevada Box Score

San Diego 10,  Wisconsin 9 Hixson Park • Reno, Nev.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E  Wis 2 0 1 3 1 0 2 9  11 2  USD 0 0 0 0 9 0 1 10 14 1 • Box Score  |  Box Score • Attendance: 175  Pitchers IP H R ER BB SO W Lahitte (5-4) 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 L McIntosh (2-4) 2.0 2 3 1 3 2  Batting Leaders  • Maria Van Abel: 3-4, 2 Run  • Whitney Massey: 2-4  • Mary Massei: 2-3, 2 Run, 1 RBI

Wisconsin 8, Nevada 5 Hixson Park • Reno, Nev.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E  Wis 2 3 0 1 0 0 2 8  11 0  Nev 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 5 13 2 • Box Score  |  Box Score • Attendance: 142  Pitchers IP H R ER BB SO W Darrah (6-3) 7.0 13 5 5 2 4 L Mallary (5-8) 2.0 5 5 0 0 0  Batting Leaders  • Maria Van Abel: 2-4, 1 Run, 1 RBI  • Whitney Massey: 2-4, 2 Runs, 2 RBI  • Shannel Blackshear: 2-2, 1 Run, 1 RBI

RENO, Nev. -- The Wisconsin softball team recorded 22 hits and 17 runs over two games, yet was only able to come up with one win Saturday afternoon at the Wolf Pack Softball Classic in Reno, Nev.

Wisconsin (9-7) opened play on Saturday with a 10-9 loss to San Diego (11-9) before rallying for an 8-5 win over Nevada (6-19) in the day’s second game.

The Badgers raced out to a 7-0 lead after the first 4 and 1/2 innings against the Toreros and appeared to have the game in hand. USD posted nine runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fifth to take a 9-7 lead.

After a scoreless sixth inning by both teams, Wisconsin rallied in the top of the seventh to tie the game, 9-9. San Diego walked in both runs and relief pitcher Kaitlin Healy was lifted and replaced by Jenny Lahitte.

USD led off the bottom of the inning with a triple and after a strike out, Wisconsin intentionally walked two San Diego batters to load the bases. Starting pitcher Amanda Najdek, who was relieved by Meghan McIntosh in the fifth, re-entered the game with one out and the bases loaded. Najdek got Jessica Tieszen to fly out to second base for the second out of the inning, before walking in the game-winning run.

Wisconsin scored nine runs on 11 hits and committed two errors, while San Diego scored 11 runs on 14 hits and had one error.

Najdek started the game, pitching the first four innings, before being relieved by McIntosh after recording one out in the fifth. In total, Najdek allowed seven runs, four earned, on 12 hits. McIntosh pitched two complete innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits.

Wisconsin wasted no time righting the ship, scoring five runs in the first two innings against Nevada in the second game.

A towering home run by Molly Spence scored two runs in the first inning and three runs on three hits in the second inning gave UW an early 5-0 lead.

The Badgers tacked on another run in the top of the fourth and Nevada posted a run in the bottom of the inning to keep the score within five, 6-1.

Nevada threatened with a big fifth inning, scoring three runs on six hits to bring the score within two, 6-4. UW starting pitcher Cassandra Darrah buckled down and got a ground out to end the inning and the scoring threat.

Wisconsin added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run by Whitney Massey. Nevada scored one more run in the bottom of the inning to end the game, 8-5, in favor of the Badgers.

UW scored eight runs on 11 hits and didn’t commit any errors, while Nevada scored five runs on 13 hits and had two errors.

Darrah pitch seven complete innings in the winning effort, scattering 13 hits and striking out five.

Maria Van Abel paced the Badgers in the batter’s box, going 5-for-8 on the day and scoring three runs. Spence recorded four RBI over two games, while Massey, Stephanie Peace and Mary Massei added two each.

Wisconsin wraps up play at the Wolf Pack Softball Classic and looks for its 10th with of the season on Sunday when it takes the field against Nevada at 11 a.m. CT.