Box Score

March 17, 2014

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Opportunistic offense. Good pitching. Timely defense. It's a recipe for success that the Badger softball team used to squeeze out a 4-1 victory over Louisville on Monday to wrap up the Louisville Classic with a 2-1 record.

UW came out like a team anxious to get on the field after some wintry weather forced the Badgers' five-game tournament schedule down to just three games. Sunday's game vs. Iowa State was cancelled and Monday's scheduled doubleheader vs. Louisville was pared down to one game.

With one out in the top of the first inning, Maria Van Abel laid a bunt down the third-base line, was safe at first and reached second on a throwing error. Michelle Mueller then grounded to the pitcher, who could not connect with the second baseman running to cover first. Van Abel scored on the error, giving the Badgers the early lead.

Chloe Miller followed with a double to left field, which would wind up being UW's only hit of the game. Stephanie Peace was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. A walk to Macy Oswald brought home Wisconsin's second run. Miller and Peace then scored on consecutive wild pitches, giving the Badgers a 4-0 lead before Louisville came up to bat.

The four runs turned out to be more than enough for Cassandra Darrah, who worked all seven innings, allowing just one run while stranding 13 Cardinals runners on base. That included working out of back-to-back bases loaded jams in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.

The Badgers improved to 12-10 on the season while Louisville fell to 15-9, losing for just the fourth time in 15 home games this season. The win was the start of a busy week for UW, which will host a doubleheader vs. Northern Iowa in Rosemont, Ill., on Thursday, followed by the start of the Big Ten season, a weekend three-game series vs. Northwestern in Rosemont.