Badgers drop fall doubleheader to Illinois State
September 26, 2010 | Softball
Sept. 26, 2010
Game One Box Score 
| Game Two Box Score
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin softball team made its first and only fall appearance at the Goodman Softball Diamond on Sunday, dropping a pair of games to Illinois State. The Badgers lost the first game, 1-0, before being shut out, 4-0, in game two. For the Badgers, it was their first games at their home field under new head coach Yvette Healy.
GAME ONE
Freshman pitcher Cassandra Darrah (Corydon, Iowa) showed promise for the upcoming 2011 season for the Badgers. In five innings of work she struck out four, while giving up five hits and one unearned run to the Redbirds.
After the first four innings passed scoreless, Illinois State scored its run in the top of the fifth inning.
With one out and runners on first and second, Lauren Keller grounded to freshman Michelle Mueller at second base. Mueller flipped the ball to Stephanie Peace at shortstop to get the force out, but Peace's attempt to turn the double play was off-target to first baseman Karla Powell, allowing Nichelle Harrison to score from second.
Wisconsin tried to counter in the bottom of the inning but the Redbird defense cut down a run at the plate.
Mueller recorded the first hit of the game for the Badgers, dropping a single into right field in the bottom of the fifth. Following a strikeout by Maggie Strange, Mueller stole second. Darrah then struck out, but Stephanie Peace followed with a single back up the middle. Mueller attempted to score from second, but Lizzie Andrews gunned her down at home.
The Badgers had another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Shannel Blackshear recorded a one-out double for the Badgers. Unfortunately, a pair of strikeouts ended the scoring threat.
Darrah and relief pitcher Amanda Najdek were backed up by a strong defensive performance.
In the first inning, with runners on first and third, Illinois State's Elizabeth Kay attempted to steal second base. Catcher Maggie Strange threw down to second where her throw was cut off by Peace. Showing quick reflexes, Peace threw to Blackshear at third who tagged out Keller as she tried to get back to the base after rounding it.
In both the sixth and seventh innings Wisconsin threw out Illinois State runners at the plate.
In the sixth, right fielder Kendall Grimm fielded a base hit and threw out Kay at the plate as she tried to score from second. One inning later, Peace fielded a ball up the middle that had deflected off Najdek's glove. Peace then threw out Kara Nelson at home plate as she tried to score from second.
GAME TWO
In the second game of the day, Illinois State scored twice in the second inning before adding a run each in both the fifth and sixth innings. Conversely, ISU held UW without a hit until the seventh inning.
The Redbirds' first run came in as a result of a hit batter as the bases were full, while a wild pitch enabled the second run to score.
In the fifth inning, Jhavon Hamilton hit a one-out double to drive in a run, while the sixth inning saw Andrews add an RBI double of her own.
Wisconsin's best scoring chance came in the sixth inning.
Abby Gregory drew a one-out walk and then moved to third following an error by Andrews on a ball hit by Peace. Wisconsin couldn't drive in the runners though as Kendall Grimm struck out looking and Blackshear grounded back to the pitcher.
The Badgers' first hit of the game came in the seventh inning as Dana Rasmussen singled back up the middle.
Meghan Mcintosh got the start in game two. She lasted five innings, giving up three earned runs, five hits, three walks and seven strikeouts.
Najdek came on in relief for the second game in a row, pitching two innings with three hits allowed and one earned run.
