Softball opens NIC with two wins
September 21, 2002 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team opened its fall season with two wins Friday night at the 15th annual National Invitational Championship in Moline, Ill. The Badgers achieved their two victories in completely different fashions, run-ruling Valparaiso, 11-0, before coming from behind to knock off Lewis University, 3-1.
The Badgers tallied runs in every inning except the fifth versus Valpo, scoring four runs in the first and fourth. Boo Gillette led the Badgers with a 4-for-4 performance, while Mandy Liles knocked in four runs. In the fourth inning, Liles drilled a base-clearing triple that just dropped fair inside the right field line. Erin Barnharst tallied three RBIs versus Valparaiso, putting two runs on the board in the first inning with a double.
While the Badger offensive firepower kept putting runs on the board, senior Andrea Kirchberg provided the defense, keeping the Crusaders off the basepath. Kirchberg no-hit the Crusaders, striking out six in five innings of work.
Kristin Zacher's tenacious defense in the field sparked the Badgers in their second game of the night. Tied 1-1 heading into the sixth inning, Zacher made a tumbling catch for the first out of the inning. Zacher registered the third out by making a high leaping grab, snatching the ball out of the air with the tip of her glove.
In the bottom of the sixth, Barnharst opened with her second double of the evening. Barnharst advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by frosh Emily Friedman and Liles cranked her second extra base hit of the night, a double, to score Barnharst for the winning score. Reiss added a double to centerfield to score Liles for the insurance run.
Lewis took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, opening the game with three straight singles. The Badgers answered in the fourth inning, tying the game on a Meghann Reiss round-tripper. Batting before Reiss, Zacher nearly sent one out, but the Flyers' leftfielder, Robin Martz, snagged the ball just before it sailed over the short white picket fence. Up next, Reiss responded, sending a 2-2 count over the rightfield fence.
The Badgers continue NIC play Saturday versus Drake at noon and Illinois Central at 5 p.m.
