CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – On the first day of the Islander Invitational, the Wisconsin softball team earned two come from behind wins. The Badgers (10-1) beat Texas A&M- Corpus Christi (1-9) 3-2 before topping Texas Southern (0-5) by a score of 8-3.
 
TEXAS A&M- CORPUS CHRISTI
After giving up giving up a run in both the second and third innings, the Badgers trailed 2-0 going into the fifth frame.
 
With two outs in the inning, an Islander error put Taylor Johnson on first base. Kayla Konwent joined her on the base path, representing the tying run. Senior Melanie Cross took care of business in the next at bat, hitting a home run to center field to put the Badgers up 3-2.
 
UW was able to blank the Islanders in the remaining two and a half frames for the 3-2 victory.
 
Junior Kaitlyn Menz pitched the majority of the contest, going 5.2 innings with one strikeout, two runs allowed and gave up five hits. Sophomore Haley Hestekin came in for the remaining 1.1 innings and earned the win after striking out one and not allowing a hit.
 
TEXAS SOUTHERN
The Badgers again found themselves trailing in game two of the day when TSU put up a run in the second inning, until UW's offensive woes were terminated in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Stephanie Lombardo got things going with a single to right field. Junior Caroline Hedgcock followed up Lombardo's single with a pinch hit home run to right field giving the Badgers the lead.
 
The scoring did not stop there! Five more Wisconsin hits and a walk helped the team put up three more runs before the Tigers were able to end the inning, leaving three Badgers stranded.
 
Junior Kayla Knowent knocked in two more runs in the fifth inning after Lauren Foster reached on an error and Jordan Little was walked.
 
The last run of the day was scored by pinch runner Sydney Lawson. She tagged the plate after TSU's catcher committed an error.
 
Hestekin pitched a complete game for her second win of the day. The sophomore struck out four batters, walked two and allowed six hits.
 

Notes to know

• Lombardo led the Badgers with three hits on the day
• Cross hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season.
• The Badgers extended their win streak to seven consecutive games.

 

On deck

Tomorrow the Badgers continue play at the Islander Invitational against Texas Southern at 10 a.m. UW will also face TAMUCC again at 12:30 p.m.