Late surge helps Buckeyes to 9-7 victory over Badgers

Friday, March 30

Columbus, OH

5 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

15-12, 0

Ohio State

20-7, 0

Wisconsin

Ohio State

Photo by: Jack McLaughlin

Late surge helps Buckeyes to 9-7 victory over Badgers

March 30, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

Little and Welsh hit big-time doubles in setback

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Wisconsin softball team lost a tough one on Friday night after holding the lead over No. 24 Ohio State for the majority of the game, but a late OSU surge in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Buckeyes a 9-7 win over the Badgers.

Wisconsin (15-12 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) took an early 1-0 lead thanks to back-to-back walks for Taylor Johnson and Cross, which set it up perfectly for Stephanie Lombardo to drive in Johnson with an RBI single. But the Buckeyes (20-7, 1-3) answered right back, taking advantage of two hits and two errors to take a 2-1 lead.

However, the Badger outfielders drilled some big hits in the second inning to help UW capture a lead it didn't give up until the bottom of the sixth. Jordan Little started the scoring frenzy knocking a double to her home in right field, and then Kelly Welsh followed suit and blasted a double to her place in center field. A final run was tacked on when Melanie Cross was walked with the bases loaded, giving Wisconsin a 4-2 edge.

The Badgers added two more runs in the top of the fourth via a sacrifice fly from freshman Taylor Johnson, the second of her career. Senior Brooke Wyderski scored in a play that caught junior Gabby Scherle stealing second, extending the Badgers' lead to 6-3. OSU's Niki Carver homered in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Wisconsin advantage to 6-4.

UW added another security run in the top of the sixth when a fielder's choice allowed Heather Rudnicki to touch home.

OSU took control in the bottom of the sixth, using a single, double and walk to load the bases for Emily Clark, who singled up the middle and scored two runs, making it a one-run game. But a two-RBI bomb gave Ohio State a 9-7 lead.

The win was the Buckeyes' first Big Ten win of the year while UW suffered its first conference loss of the year.

Batting Cleanup – 4 Notes to Know:

In her first appearance back after an injury, junior Stephanie Lombardo hit an RBI single to put the Badgers on the board first, driving in Taylor Johnson.
Kelsey Jenkins has reached base in 27-consecutive games, giving her the second-highest streak in UW history, only behind herself. She claimed the record with 31 games in 2017.
Jordan Little hit her second career double and it was her second hit of the season.
The Badgers are still on the hunt for their first win in Columbus since April 4, 2004.

On Deck: The Badgers and Buckeyes will be right back at it Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT.