March 5, 2010
Box Score | Box Score 
SAN DIEGO, Calif.--The Wisconsin softball team opened the San Diego Classic with a close 3-1 loss to Fresno State, Friday morning at the USD Softball Complex in San Diego, Calif. Freshman Molly Spence nailed two doubles, lengthening her hitting streak to six games.
With the first four innings passing scoreless, Fresno State scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. With two Bulldog pinch runners on first and second, Oliverez threw a wild pitch, advancing the runners to second and third. Olivarez recovered to throw a strikeout for the first out of the inning.
Morgan Melloh hit a sacrifice fly to left center where junior Jennifer Krueger made a tough catch for the second out, but Diane Runge was able to come home and score. Haley Gilland then singled with a line drive to right, bringing in another Fresno State run and leaving the score at 2-0.
The Badgers quickly responded to the Bulldog scoring as freshman Molly Spence opened the sixth inning by hammering her second double of the game to deep right center. Fellow freshman Shannel Blackshear then followed with a double to deep right field, bringing Spence home and making the score 2-1.
After Fresno State scored its final run in the top of the seventh, the Badgers had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore Karla Powell started the Badger hitting with a base hit. Kruger struck out, but sophomore Jordan Skinner was walked, advancing Powell to second. Spence came to the plate with the tying runners on but struck out to end the game.
The Badgers also had a good scoring opportunity in the top of the second. Senior Letty Olivarez walked and freshman Kendall Grimm singled to left field, but Powell and senior Katie Soderberg but both struck out to end the threat.
Olivarez went the distance for UW, giving up three earned runs and seven hits over seven innings. She also struck out three and walked three batters.
The Badgers will continue game action Friday night at 9 p.m. (CT) against the University of San Diego. Fans can follow along on game tracker at the San Diego Classic website.
