TEMPE, Ariz. –
Top-10 win, check. Top-15 win, check. Two wins over ranked teams in the same day, check. The Wisconsin softball team shined on the second day of competition at the Sun Devil Classic, taking down No. 9 Texas in extra innings, 3-1, before beating host team No. 15 Arizona State, 5-1, on Saturday night.
Texas:
The Badger defense held strong against powerhouse Texas and did not allow a run until the bottom of the ninth inning, which was enough to help Wisconsin earn a 3-1 win.
The pitching combination of
Haley Hestekin,
Maddie Schwartz and
Kaitlyn Menz took out the Longhorns, who came in averaging more than seven runs a game, but were held to just one run against the Badgers.
Melanie Cross lit the field up in her home state with a game-high two hits and one RBI. It was back-to-back
Kayla Konwent and Cross singles that ignited UW's offense in the top of the ninth inning, scoring sophomore
Taylor Johnson. A
Caroline Hedgcock double pushed it all the way through, scoring Cross and advancing
Tyra Turner, who was in to pinch run, into scoring position. A sacrifice bunt from freshman
Jolie Fish secured the third and final run for UW.
For Wisconsin, It marked the third win over Texas in program history. The Badgers also bested the Longhonrs last season in an extra-innings affair (7-3 in 8 innings).
Arizona State:
For the first time in program history, Wisconsin defeated Arizona State, and did so in decisive fashion. The Badgers got on the board quick, scoring right in the top of the first inning courtesy of two consecutive hits from
Taylor Johnson and Konwent that were followed by a booming home run from Hedgcock.
The bats didn't cool off after clinching a steady 3-0 lead in the first frame. In the second inning, a clutch double up the middle from freshman
Ally Miklesh moved fellow rookie Jolie Fosh, who was on from a hit by pitch, over to third. It was the perfect setup for Konwent, who fired a shot to right center and added the final two runs for the Cardinal and White.
Hestekin and Menz made for the perfect combo, as Hestekin pitched a solid five innings and struck out three and Menz closed out the game and struck out one. Between the two, they allowed just three total ASU hits and one run.
Batting Cleanup – 4 Notes to Know:
- The win over Texas was Wisconsin's first win over a team ranked No. 9 and UW's seventh top-10 win in program history
- The victory against the Longhorns was the second ranked win of the season, as the Badgers also took down No. 17 NC State on Feb. 15
- Kaitlyn Menz picked up her second win over Texas and the eighth ranked win of her career
- Wisconsin earned its first win in program history over the renowned Arizona State program
Straight from the dugout:
Head Coach Yvette Healy
"It was a fun day for the Badgers to come out here to Arizona State and see some of the best competition. I am really proud of the fight that we had. We played Texas tough yesterday and I think everybody wanted more out of the day. When you get big ranked wins it's great, but it's an even bigger deal when it's a bounce-back win and when you get an effort from everyone.
"We had people up and down the lineup hitting. All the pitchers contributed. It was good to see so many arms be that effective. It was such a great team win, I couldn't be more proud."
