Softball blanks two at home
September 28, 2002 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team improved to 6-1 in fall play with shutouts over UW-Green Bay, 4-0, and UW-Parkside, 6-0, Saturday at the Goodman Diamond Complex. Erin Barnharst led the Badgers at the plate, going 4-for-6 with six RBI and two triples on the day.
The Badgers opened the day against UWGB and neither team reached base until Kaitlin Reiss got to first in the third inning on an error. With no outs, Barnharst broke the 0-0 tie with a triple to score Kaitlin Reiss. Leadoff hitter Emily Friedman 's groundout to the shortstop scored Barnharst to give the Badgers a 2-0 lead.
With two outs in the sixth inning, Barnharst and the Phoenix defense helped put the final two runs on the board. With Boo Gillette and Reiss on first and second, Barnharst knocked a ball toward the shortstop Jenny Pingel, who bobbled the ball. Gillette rounded third and Pingel fired home, but the catcher couldn't control the throw and Gillette slid in safely. During the action, Barnharst approached second base and Amber Techlin fired the ball to second and Reiss came home for the fourth run.
Andrea Kirchberg pitched the first five innings against UWGB, striking out seven. Katie Layne closed the game and pitched her way out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the final batter of the game for her fourth K.
Gillette put the Badgers on the board first in the second game of the day, launching a ball over the left field wall against UW-Parkside. After UW put another run on the board in the third inning, Barnharst ripped her second triple of the day in the fourth, scoring Gillette for a 3-0 score. UW closed the scoring in the sixth, on two doubles. Barnharst brought Anna Jones and Gillette home with her third extra-base hit of the day. Reiss scored Barnharst with a double of her own, but was caught at third, trying to extend the hit into a triple.
Rookie Sara Gonzales went the distance for the Badgers against UW-Parkside, throwing seven innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 10.
The Badgers conclude their fall season this Friday with a double header versus Winona State at the Goodman Diamond. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
