TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Wisconsin women's softball team (0-2) dropped its first two games of the 2015 season on Friday in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. The Badgers dropped their first contest of the season to Cal State Northridge, 4-3, and later fell to Utah Valley, 9-5.
The Badgers have started their last two NCAA run seasons with one loss in the first two games.
"It was a tough opening day but it's always good to start off and get outdoors," UW head coach
Yvette Healy said. "We've got a lot of young players in the lineup so we were pleased that we saw a lot of bright spots and moments of different new people stepping up."
In Wisconsin's first game against CSUN, the Matadors' pitcher threw a complete game with 12 strikeouts and only allowed one earned run and two hits in the game.
Junior
Taylor-Paige Stewart pitched a full game for the Badgers and allowed seven hits in 23 at bats. Sophomore
Chloe Miller registered both of the Badgers' two hits in the first game and led the Badgers with two runs batted in.
It was all in Cal State Northridge's favor in the first five innings as they scored in runs in the second, third and fifth innings. CSUN freshman Savannah Horvath hammered a homerun in her collegiate debut in the bottom of the second inning to start the Matador scoring.
The powerful bat of Miller made its 2015 debut in an exciting fashion. In the bottom of the sixth against CSUN, junior
Katie Christner reached on a throwing error and was followed by senior
Maria Van Abel being walked. And then Miller stepped up to the plate. The sophomore catcher slammed a double through center field bringing home Christner and Van Abel. But the play wasn't over. Back-to-back throwing errors allowed Miller to come in on a run and tied the score, 3-3.
The Matadors answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth though to take the advantage once again, 4-3. With Maylynn Mitchell on base from a single, Kaitlin Toerner moved her in on a sacrifice bunt.
The Badgers could not bounce back as junior Steffani LaJeunesse flied out, junior
Ashley Van Zeeland grounded out and Christner flied out to the shortstop to conclude the final inning and the game.
UW lost control of a tough lead against another 2014 NCAA Tournament team in Utah Valley. Behind three homeruns, the Wolverines overpowered UW in a 9-5 game.
Wisconsin got a run in early in the first inning. Freshman
Kelsey Jenkins doubled down the left field line in the first at bat of the game and Van Abel quickly followed with a single of her own. Jenkins advance to third but Van Abel was caught stealing at second. Miller once again advanced on an error after she reached on a fielder's choice but then advanced to second on a throwing error and brought in Jenkins.
The Badgers exploded in the second inning with three runs and one hit. Freshman
Brianna Flugaur came into pinch run for freshman
Samantha Arents and showed off her speed by stealing second. Dynasty Lavui put the Wolverines back on the board in the third by blasting a three-run homerun to tie the game, 4-4. Lavui proved to be the Badgers' biggest weakness as she went 3-for-4 at the plate with five RBIs.
Van Abel and LaJeunesse led the Badgers with two hits apiece and Miller led with two RBI.
UW rotated in three different pitchers against UVU. Freshman
Annie Davis threw for six innings and allowed six hits, six runs and walked one. Sophomore
Sarah Fonk also took the mound for the Badgers for 0.1 innings along with freshman
Mariah Watts who pitched 0.2 innings, and the two combined to allow six hits.
"We made a lot of really nice plays on defense and put together some nice pitching combinations and got in some good hits," Healy added. "Our challenge moving forward is to be more consistent and find ways to put together more solid innings so we can come out with some wins tomorrow."
Wisconsin greatly improved in the second game by recording nine total hits.
The Badgers will be back in action on Saturday at the Kajikawa Classic against Virginia at 12:30 p.m. CT and Oregon State at 3 p.m. CT.
