March 15, 2014
Game 1 Box Score (vs. Kent State) | Game 2 Box Score (vs. Iowa State)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- It was pretty much a foregone conclusion with the Wisconsin softball team playing a pair of games on Saturday. It wasn't so much if Mary Massei would become the Badgers' all-time hits leader, it was when. And after going hitless in the opening contest of the day, Massei wasted little time etching her name in the record book in game two.
After Iowa State opened the game with a run in the top of the first, Massei led off the bottom half of the frame with a double. It was her 204th career hit, breaking a three-way tie atop UW's career hits list with Samantha Polito (2004-07) and Julie Borchard (1996-99).
Massei's double ignited a three-run inning for the Badgers. Maria Van Abel laid down a bunt single then stole second. Michelle Mueller drove them both home with a single down the leftfield line. Mueller advanced to second on the throw home and later scored on Stephanie Peace's single to center.
The score stayed 3-1 until Mueller led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run, her fourth of the season.
It looked as though the Badgers would need that run when Iowa State scored twice in the top of the sixth inning. It could have been more as the Cyclones loaded the bases with nobody out. Following a fielder's choice out at home, ISU scored both its runs on a fielder's choice and error on Mueller.Facing runners on second and third with only one out, UW pitcher Taylor-Paige Stewart got out of the jam with a fielder's choice out at home and a strikeout.
The Badgers then added two more runs, one on a Mueller sacrifice fly, in the bottom of the sixth and Stewart worked around a hit and an error in the top of the seventh to close out the game.
Mueller went 3-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored while the Badgers outhit Iowa State, 9-4. Stewart worked all seven innings, giving up two earned runs to even her record on the season at 4-4.
In the first game of the day, the Badgers mustered just four hits in falling to Kent State, 5-2. After Kent State opened the game with a pair of runs in the top of the first, Massei answered for the Badgers by walking and scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.
The score stayed 2-1 until the top of the fourth inning when the Golden Flashes scored all three of their run with two outs. Wisconsin tried to answer in the bottom of the inning, putting runners on first and second with nobody out, but the Badgers came away with only one run in the frame.
That would be all the scoring as UW managed just one hit the rest of the way. Cassandra Darrah worked all seven innings for the Badgers, giving up four earned runs and striking out four. Her record fell to 7-6 on the season.
Wisconsin continues play at the Louisville Classic on Sunday facing Iowa State again at 10:30 a.m. CT. The Badgers wrap up the tournament with a doubleheader against host Louisville on Monday with the first game starting at 11 a.m.
