March 27, 2010
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Wisconsin softball team opened play in the Big Ten with a 6-4 loss to Ohio State in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Each team scored in the second and third innings, but OSU broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning.
Junior Jennifer Krueger made Wisconsin history in the sixth inning as she became the school’s all-time leader in stolen bases. After reaching on a bunt single, Krueger swiped second base to earn the 42nd steal of her career, passing Kris Zacher who had 41 from 2002-05.
Tied at 3-3 going into the bottom of the fifth, Ohio State used a two-out rally to take a 6-3 lead.
With two outs and a runner on first, Alicia Herron drilled a double to center field to bring home Courtney Pruner to make it 4-3 OSU. Whitney Cooper then came to bat and launched a two-run home run to center field to make it 6-3.
Wisconsin took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second.
Freshman Whitney Massey led off with a line drive to shortstop that went off Herron’s glove for an error. Following a sacrifice bunt by senior Letty Olivarez, sophomore Karla Powell laced a single up the middle to bring in Massey. Junior Ashley Hanewich struck out looking for the second out, but freshman Maggie Strange punched a double to the gap in right field to make it 2-0 UW.
The Buckeyes got one back in the bottom of the inning as Megan Coletta hit a sacrifice fly to center field.
UW added to its total in the top of the third as freshmen Shannel Blackshear and Molly Spence each singled to start the inning. Fellow freshman Abby Gregory then pinch ran for Blackshear as Massey came to the plate. Massey reached on a fielder’s choice on a hit to the shortstop, but Gregory was gunned down at the plate. Spence, who reached third on the play, came home on the next play as Olivarez lined a single off Herron’s glove at shortstop.
OSU countered again in the bottom portion of the inning as Herron drilled a deep home run to left field, bringing home Courtney Pruner to tie the game at 3-3.
The Badgers got one run back in the sixth inning as Krueger was able to score after her record-setting stolen base. Freshman Kendall Grimm reached first on a single to third base, and the throw eluded the first baseman, enabling Krueger to come home from second.
Game two of the doubleheader will be played Saturday afternoon.
