TEMPE, Ariz. – The Wisconsin softball team added one more win to its streak before No. 9 Texas proved too tough to overcome on day one of the Sun Devil Classic at Vail Stadium. The Badgers (14-2) started the day with a dominant 11-2 win over Princeton (1-4) but fell short against Texas by a score of 5-1.
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PRINCETON
Back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning led the Badgers to their 11th-straight victory. With one run already in,
Stephanie Lombardo hit a two-RBI dinger for the second and third runs of the inning. In the next at bat,
Caroline Hedgcock followed suit with another homer for the fourth score of the fourth.
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It didn't take long for the Badgers to get started. Three walks in the first inning proved costly when Hedgcock singled to score
Taylor Johnson and
Kelly Welsh hit a sacrifice fly scored
Kayla Konwent.
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Wisconsin doubled its lead to 4-0 in the second inning via two doubles, one from Johnson and the other from Lombardo.
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The Badgers secured a run rule victory in the top of the fifth frame with the final three runs. Senior
Melanie Cross scored freshman
Ally Miklesh on a single up the middle. Princeton's pitching woes continued after a change in the circle, with Hedgcock tallying an RBI via a bases loaded hit by pitch and
Kelly Welsh drawing a bases loaded walk before the Tigers could end the inning.
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Sophomore pitcher
Haley Hestekin fanned a season-best seven batters en route to her seventh win of the season.
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TEXAS
It took some time for Wisconsin to find its rhythm against No. 9 Texas, but the Badgers were able to muster up four hits and one run late in the game.
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Texas scored a run in the second inning and four runs in the third for an early 5-0 lead.
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Konwent stepped up to the plate and smacked a solo long ball with two outs in the sixth inning for UW's only run of the game.
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Freshman
Maddie Schwartz pitched a solid 4.1 innings in relief with three strikeouts and no runs allowed.
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Batting clean-up: Four notes to know
- UW extended its best start in program history to 14-1 after beating Princeton.
- Lombardo and Hedgcock each tallied a game-high three RBI in game one.
- Hedgcock has hit four homers in the last eight games.
- The Wisconsin pitchers only allowed one walk in their 12 combined innings in the circle.
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On deck
The Badgers will get another shot at No. 9 Texas tomorrow at 1 p.m. before facing No. 15 Arizona State at 6:30 p.m.