Wisconsin Badgers
Rutgers
Jenkins powers Badgers to 4-1 win over Rutgers
May 02, 2015 | Softball
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 | Wisconsin 5, Rutgers 1 RU Softball Complex · Attendance: 203 Box Score | Box Score  |  |
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May 2, 2015
PISCATAWAY, NJ -- Wisconsin softball freshman Kelsey Jenkins entered Saturday's game against Rutgers with three home runs in 50 games played.
Jenkins doubled her home-run total with three round-trippers, tying a school record, to power the Badgers to a 4-1 win over the Scarlet Knights.
Wisconsin (21-30 overall, 5-16 Big Ten) took a 2-0 lead over Rutgers (28-19, 10-12) in the top of the first thanks to Jenkins' first blast of the afternoon.
Following a leadoff single from senior Maria Van Abel, Jenkins launched a two-run bomb to left center to put Wisconsin on top.
After only getting one strikeout in Friday's game, junior Taylor-Paige Stewart eclipsed her strike out total in the bottom of the first, recording a pair of strike outs to force Rutgers to leave two runners stranded.
Following two scoreless innings, Jenkins decided to make more noise in her second at-bat in the top of the fourth frame. Jenkins blasted a solo home run over the center field wall to give Wisconsin a 3-0 advantage after 3.5 innings.
Rutgers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded on a wild pitch from Stewart.
Wisconsin regained a three-run lead in the top of the sixth as Jenkins hit her third home run of the afternoon, tying the school record for home runs in a game. The record of three homers in a single game was set in 2012 by Mary Massei and was matched by Michelle Mueller last season against Illinois.
As if the freshman's three long balls weren't enough, Jenkins made a huge play to end the sixth inning for RU. She made a double play to retire the last two batters and force Rutgers to leave one runner on base.
Stewart ended the game with her fourth strikeout of the game. She pitched a complete game, allowing one run, seven hits while walking five batters.
The Badgers ended with six hits while the Scarlet Knights tallied seven. Junior Ashley Van Zeeland had the second-most hits for the Cardinal and White with two behind Jenkins' three bombs.
Wisconsin goes for the series sweep tomorrow against Rutgers with an 11 a.m. (CT) contest.
