Badgers Win in Walk-Off at Badger Blast
October 06, 2007 | Softball
The University of Wisconsin women's softball team opened up the Badger Blast on Saturday afternoon with a walk-off win over UW-Parkside. Junior first baseman Alexis Garcia (North Hollywood, Calif.) singled in the bottom of the eighth to drive in senior centerfielder Katie Hnatyk (London, Ontario) with the winning run to give the Badgers a 5-4 victory at the Goodman Softball Complex.
Playing by international rules where in extra innings the team starts with a runner on second base, Garcia drove a 2-2 pitch up the middle to drive in Hnatyk ahead of the throw by UW-Parkside centerfielder Katrina Homa.
The win came as a result of a two-run comeback by the Badgers. Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, senior catcher Joey Daniels was hit by a pitch as she led off the inning. Following two wild pitches by Rangers pitcher Meagan Shimkus, Daniels found herself on third base with no one out. With sophomore second baseman Katie Soderberg up facing a 2-0 count, Wisconsin head coach Chandelle Schulte made the decision to pinch hit junior catcher Nicole Whaley. Whaley responded by lifting a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in the tying run.
UW-Parkside took the lead in the top of the seventh on a controversial call at first base. With two outs and runners on first and second, Homa hit a shot to third baseman Theresa Boruta (Chicago, Ill.). The play at first base was close and the runner was ruled safe. The runner on second base, Christine Holthus, kept running on the play and scored to give the Rangers a short-lived lead.
The Badgers got the scoring started in the bottom of the third inning. With one out and Daniels on second base, Badgers senior designated hitter Ricci Robben laced a single down the left field line to score the game's first run. After a fly out by Hnatyk, Garcia walked. A double steal by Garcia and Robben gave the Badgers runners on second and third with two outs. Robben ended up scoring on a passed ball by Holthus, while Garcia came in on an RBI-double by senior shortstop Lynn Anderson (Neenah, Wis.)
The Badgers defense let them down in the fourth inning, allowing three runs on three errors to tie the game. Garcia, freshman right fielder Ashley Hanewich (Bradenton, Fla.) and junior left fielder Tara Hiteman (Chesterton, Ind.) all committed errors in the inning, as only one of the Rangers' four runs were earned during the course of the game.
Junior Leah Vanevenhoven (Kaukauna, Wis.) got the start for the Badgers and lasted four innings giving up three runs, none earned, to go along with four hits and four strikeouts. Freshman Kristyn Hansen (Franksville, Wis.) came on in relief and picked up the win. She pitched the final four innings giving up one earned run on four hits.
Shimkus got the loss for the Rangers after giving up five runs, four of which were earned, seven hits, three walks and striking out six.
The Badgers will return to action later this afternoon as they complete the Badger Blast against UW-Green Bay. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
