TEMPE, Ariz. -- It was an NCAA Regional rematch as Wisconsin (1-4) faced the second-ranked Oregon (5-0) Ducks in its last game at the Kajikawa Classic. The Badgers were trounced in five innings in a 10-2 run rule.
UW hung tough as the Badgers and Ducks went scoreless through two innings. Wisconsin went down in order in the first inning. The Ducks logged one hit in the first inning but stranded Janie Takeda on third as Janelle Lindvall grounded out.
In the second inning, sophomore
Chloe Miller got on base for the Badgers as she was hit by the pitch. Miller was left on base after senior
Megan Tancill lined out to the shortstop and junior
Taylor-Paige Stewart struck out swinging. Oregon left two on base in the bottom of the second after Koral Costa walked and Danica Mercado singled off of a bunt.
The scoring drought ended in the third inning when Badger bats sparked play. With freshman
Brianna Flugaur on at first base, senior
Maria Van Abel sacrifice bunted to third base to advance her to second. Senior
Marissa Mersch reached base on an error by the second baseman and Flugaur's speed took advantage of the situation, scoring on the throw to put UW on the board first.
Oregon had answer to the Badgers' run putting up two of their own in the third inning. With Davis on the mound, Alyssa Gillepsie singled on a bunt and Jenna Lilley followed right behind with a single of her own. Both runners scored on Badger miscues, Gillepsie scored on an error by Miller while Lilley came in on a passed ball.
Wisconsin went down in order in the top of the fourth on a ground out by Miller, a fly out by Tancill and a strikeout by Stewart.
The undefeated Ducks took control of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Costa led off with a solo homerun to start the inning. She was followed by a single shot to the shortstop from Mercado. With the bases loaded, Stewart switched out with Davis on the mound. Takeda singled through the middle to bring in Mercado.
Gillepsie's sacrifice hit to left field brought in two additional runs. The Ducks finished the fourth inning with three runs and three hits to go up on the Badgers, 5-1.
The senior class helped to keep UW in the game in the fifth inning. Van Abel recorded her signature bunt single after two early outs in the top of the inning. The Kaukauna, Wisconsin, native then swiped second base with Mersch at the plate. Mersch blasted a hit straight to the pitcher and Van Abel moved quickly to third base.
With freshman
Kelsey Jenkins up to bat, Mersch distracted the field when she stole second and Van Abel used her hustle to score on the throw. The Badgers trailed 5-2 headed into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Oregon ended the game by putting up five runs and five hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Badgers have a quick turnaround as they head to Corpus Christi, Texas, for the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Tournament Feb. 12-15. Wisconsin will face the Islanders in a doubleheader on Thursday starting at 1 p.m.
