April 30, 2011
• Box Score | Box Score 
2 Michigan 9, Wisconsin 1 (5 inn.)
Goodman Diamond • Madison, Wis.
| |
| |
 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | | Michigan | 2
| 0
| 0
| 7
| 0
| 9
| 9
| 0
| Wisconsin
| 0 | 0
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 3
| 2
| | | | | | Pitchers
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | W
| Taylor (22-3) | 5.0
| 3
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 10
| | L | Najdek (4-4) | 5.0
| 8
| 8
| 2
| 3
| 1
| | |
| |
MADISON, Wis. -- In the opening contest of a two-game series, the Wisconsin softball team lost to No. 2 Michigan, 9-1, in five innings on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Diamond. The Wolverines (43-4, 13-2) scored seven runs - all unearned - in the fourth inning en route to the victory.
Fast Facts
| • Krueger goes 2-2 with a double and stolen base
| • Powell hits RBI single
| | • Seven of Michigan's nine runs unearned | |
The Badgers (26-20, 6-9) were led offensively by Jennifer Krueger who went 2-2 with a double -- her first of the season -- and a stolen base.
Krueger scored the Badgers' lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as she led off with an infield single and then stole second. Karla Powell followed with a single to left field, bringing home Krueger.
The run was too little too late though as Michigan struck for two runs in the first inning and then blew the game open in the top of the fourth. The Wolverines capitalized on two Wisconsin errors in the inning and sent 13 batters to the plate.
The fourth started with a throwing error by Whitney Massey on Ashley Lane's grounder to second base. Caitlin Blanchard followed with a single through the right side. Dorian Shaw then hit a grounder that went through Stephanie Peace's legs at shortstop. The ball went all the way to the wall, enabling Lane and Blanchard to score and make it 4-0.
Michigan loaded the bases on a single and a walk before the Badgers got the second out of the inning as Shannel Blackshear fielded a grounder at third and came home to get the force out.
The big blow came on the next batter, though, as Alycia Ryan hit a deep drive to center field. Krueger raced back and reached up for the ball while on the run, but it just kicked out of her glove, giving Ryan a bases-clearing triple.
Meghan McIntosh came on in relief of UW starter Amanda Najdek but promptly gave up an RBI single to Amanda Chidester. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases back up and Najdek re-entered the game to pitch. After a bases-loaded walk to Shaw made it 9-0, Najdek struck out pinch hitter Marley Powers to end the inning.
Najdek took the loss for the Badgers, dropping to 4-4 on the year. She gave up eight hits and eight runs in five innings of work, but only two of those runs were earned.
The teams close out the series on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. and the contest airs live on the Big Ten Network.
