May 9, 2010
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. – Wisconsin gave up a season-high four home runs en route to an 11-3, six-inning loss to Northwestern on Sunday afternoon in Evanston, Ill. After falling behind 4-0 after the first inning, the Badgers rallied back to cut the deficit to 4-3 after four innings. The Wildcats scored seven runs over the final two innings, though to salvage a split in the series.
Freshman Shannel Blackshear led the Badger offense with a 2-2 day, including a run and an RBI. Five other Badgers collected hits on the day.
Northwestern struck early in the first inning, sending all nine batters to the plate. The Wildcats used a single and a pair of walks, one which was intentional, to load the bases. Nicole Pauly, who went 0-3 with two strikeouts on Saturday, then crushed a home run to center field to give NU a 4-0 lead.
After double plays in the second and third innings hindered scoring opportunities, the Badgers broke through in the top of the fourth.
Senior Katie Soderberg led things off with a single to third base, and she then took third on a single up the middle by freshman Molly Spence. Freshman Shannel Blackshear followed with an RBI double down the left field line to put runners on second and third with no outs and make the score, 4-1.
Fellow freshman Whitney Massey came to bat next and flew out to right field. Spence bluffed a tag attempt, and a throwing error by right fielder Kristin Scharkey allowed her to score and Blackshear to take third. Two batters later, junior Kristyn Hansen singled up the middle to cut the score to 4-3 in favor of Northwestern.
That would be the closest the Badgers would get however, because after the Badgers stranded a runner at third in the top of the fifth, Northwestern capitalized in the bottom of the inning with four runs of their own.
On the first pitch, Pauly hit her second home run of the day, and after a walk, Kelly Dyer added to the lead with a two-run home run to left field, making it 7-3. A fourth run came home in the inning on a groundout to second base.
The game ended in the sixth inning as Emily Haug launched a three-run home run to left field to envoke the run rule.
The Badgers return to action on Wednesday as they visit Border Battle-rival Minnesota in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. (CT).
