Late Rally Leads Badgers Past UIC, 5-4
May 06, 2004 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Illinois-Chicago 5-4 Thursday night. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Badgers, while snapping the Flames' eight-game win streak.
UW improves to 28-27 overall with the win, while UIC falls to 32-21.
The Badgers broke out of a long scoring slump in the top of the second inning to push across the game's first run. Diana Consolmagno led off the inning with a basehit, but was forced out at second on a bunt by Anastasia Miller. Miller advanced to second on a single by Emily Friedman and then came around to score two batters later on an RBI single to left by Natalie Phillips. UW loaded the bases on a walk by Sam Polito, but Brittany McIntyre prevented any further damage by getting Athena Vasquez to pop out to end the frame.
The Flames took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning as Amanda Rivera led off with a single and came in to score on Alycia Creese's third home run of the season.
Zacher gave the Badgers their third leadoff single in as many innings in the third and was at second with no one out, but Wisconsin was unable to knot the score.
UIC opened up its lead in the bottom of the third. Three straight infield singles to start the inning loaded the bases for Rivera who brought home Cameron Astiazaran with a sacrifice fly to right. Creese followed with an RBI single to right, marking the end of Katie Layne's day in the pitcher's circle. Wisconsin brought on Eden Brock to replace Layne and prevented any further damage and keep the Flames ' lead at 4-1.
Yet another leadoff single in the top of the fifth helped UW get back to within 4-2. Polito reached on a bunt single, moved up to second on a wild pitch and scored two batters later on a ringing double to right by Kris Zacher. Zacher was in scoring position with only one away, but the Badgers were unable to bring her home.
It looked as though Wisconsin might be able to have a big inning in the sixth, but it was forced to settle for just one run off UIC reliever Alison Aguilar. A walk, a single and a sacrifice bunt gave UW runners at second and third with one out. Natalie Phillips followed with a single up the middle, but Friedman collided with shortstop Joyce Cathey on the play and was called out for interference. That left runners at the corners with two outs for Polito, who collected her third hit of the day to bring home Miller, making it 4-3.
The Badgers mounted a late rally in the top of the seventh inning, scoring twice to take the 5-4 lead. Singles by Zacher and Gillette to open the inning gave UW runners at the corners with no one out. Consolmagno followed with a sacrifice fly to the wall in center, scoring Zacher with the tying run. Consecutive singles by Miller and Friedman loaded the bases for Kaitlin Reiss. Reiss hit a sharp grounder to Sarah Hernandez at third who got the forceout at the plate. However, a hard slide by Gillette forced catcher Elizabeth Jacoby's ensuing throw to first to be errant, allowing Miller to come in and score the eventual winning run.
Brock worked around a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win. Brock surrendered just three hits in 4.2 innings of relief to improve to 12-12 on the season.
Polito, Zacher and Friedman each collected three hits for the Badgers, who outhit the Flames 14-9. Miller scored a career-high three runs. Aguilar allowed three runs on seven hits in two innings of relief to take the loss and fall to 12-7.
The Badgers return to action at 6 p.m. Saturday when they opening a season-ending series at Goodman Diamond against Minnesota.
