Wisconsin Badgers
Boston College
Badgers end weekend on high note again
March 08, 2015 | Softball
Box Score | Box Score 
March 8, 2015
CLEAR SPRINGS, Fla.,-- The Wisconsin softball team came out of its weekend at the USF Under Armour Showcase with a winning record after completing its final game against Boston College, 4-3. The Badgers finished the weekend with a 3-2 record and are now 9-12 on the season.
Wisconsin outhit Boston College 9-7 in the victory. Three Badgers, Ashley Van Zeeland, Maria Van Abel and Kelsey Jenkins, each scored two hits apiece in the game.
Junior Taylor-Paige Stewart started in the circle for the Badgers and got off to an explosive start with some help from a stellar Badger defense. The first three Boston College batters went down in order in the first inning after hitting two lineouts and one ground ball to Van Zeeland, who was not letting anything get past her.
Van Abel hit a leadoff single to start the Badgers out in the first inning. UW left two on base in the first inning and notched the first hit of many in the game.
Both teams recorded one hit in the second inning but did not capitalize as Boston College left one on base and Wisconsin stranded two. It was a dormant third inning for both squads as neither had any hits in the third.
The Eagles turned that around in the fourth inning as they brought in two runs off of three hits. The leadoff batter, Jessie Daulton, singled to left field and was quickly followed by Annie Murphy who nailed a double to left center immediately after. Jordan Chimento hit an RBI double to ring in the two runners.
The Badgers and Eagles stayed quiet through the next half innings until Wisconsin took control of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Junior Katie Christner led off with a bunt single and then stole second base with Jenkins at bat. Jenkins singled up the middle to advance Christner to third and then stole second. Van Abel used her signature bunt to get on base at first and load the bases up for the Badgers. Senior Marissa Mersch singled to right center to score Christner and Jenkins. Van Abel was able to advance to third and then score on an interference call. UW led 3-2 through five innings.
The Eagles tied it up 3-3 in the top of the sixth. Daulton's bat proved to be an issue as she hit a double to left field and then scored as Murphy singled to left field.
Wisconsin would record three more hits through the sixth and seventh innings but left two runners on in the sixth and three in the seventh. With no runs scored in the seventh inning, the teams were set for a battle in an extra inning.
Boston College left two on base in the top of the eight and the pressure was on for the Badgers. Macy Oswald was placed on second to pinch run in the bottom of the eighth and she delivered. Christner sacrifice bunted to move Oswald up to third base and then the unconceivable happened. With two outs and Jenkins up to bat with a 3-2 count, Oswald stole home to seal the Badgers' victory, 4-3.
Stewart pitched a season-high 8.0 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. She walked two batters and struck out five.
Wisconsin hits the road again next week when they travel to the College of Charleston Invitational in Charleston, South Carolina. UW will face Furman, College of Charleston, Marist, Memphis and New Mexico.
