| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | Wisconsin
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3
| 10 | 3 | | Illinois | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 6 | 2 | | Pitchers
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | | W | J. Vecvanags (14-9) | 7.0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | | L | Watts (8-7) | 6.0 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 1 | | | | | |
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | Wisconsin
| 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8
| 7 | 2 | Illinois
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | X | 12 | 15 | 3 | | Pitchers
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | | W | J. Vecvanags (15-9) | 4.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | | L | Stewart (8-14) | 6.0 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 2 | | | | | |
April 18, 2015
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Freshman Kelsey Jenkins was the definition of a game changer in Wisconsin's doubleheader with Illinois. However, despite the freshman's two home runs on the day, the first of her career, the Badgers fell short against the Illini, 5-3 in game one and 12-8 in game two.
| Fast Facts | | · Kelsey Jenkins hits two home runs | | · Badgers outhit Illini 10-6 in first game | | · Jenkins tallies five hits on the day | |
"I honestly think it was a great weekend in Champaign and we walked away with getting the first win," Wisconsin head coach Yvette Healy said. "Mariah (Watts) threw a great game this morning in one of the better games I've seen her throw in her time here at Wisconsin. Taylor-Paige (Stewart) had a phenomenal game yesterday and today she hung in there."
The Illinois bats started firing early as they put up two runs in the first inning. The Badgers answered in the second as Jenkins led off with a single and later scored on an RBI walk from Katie Christner.
Illinois wouldn't stop there. The Illini put up another run in the bottom of the second and two more in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 5-1.
Wisconsin started to rally in the later innings. In the top of the fifth frame, senior Marissa
Mersch led off with a rocket to left field for a single and then stole second. Sophomore Chloe Miller then knocked a hard hit to center field, scoring Mersch and bringing the score to 5-2. Jenkins walked but was stranded on base as Miller was caught stealing and senior Megan Tancill grounded out to close the inning.
The Badgers weren't done yet. In the top of the seventh inning with one out, Jenkins knocked her first career home run over the center field wall. Tancill came up with a big double to left center but it wasn't enough as the Badgers couldn't overcome the two-run deficit and fell 5-3 to the Illini.
Both teams struggled with errors in the first game as the Badgers committed three miscues and the Illini had two.
Freshman Mariah Watts took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits.
Wisconsin started game two off on a strong note by getting on the board first in the top of the first. Mersch smacked a single through the right side and then stole second base. She came home on a wild pitch to give UW its first run.
Illinois answered in the bottom of the first with three runs on three hits, the big one a three-run homer to left field.
The Illini added two runs in the second but Stewart avoided more damage, stranding three on base.
With Illinois up 5-1, Wisconsin had to have a strong showing in the third inning, and they did. With one out Miller walked, bringing up Jenkins. The
freshman phenom slammed a bomb, her second of the day, over the right centerfield wall to make it a 5-3 ballgame.
Junior Ashley Van Zeeland followed with a walk and moved to second when sophomore Nyah Rodman sliced a single to the shortstop. With Macy Oswald in to pinch run for Rodman, a wild pitch advanced both runners. Stefanni LaJeunesse was hit by a pitch and just like that the bases were loaded up for junior Katie Christner. Christner singled to left field, driving in one and Oswald scored on a throwing error to tie the score. Tancill walked to load the bases once more. Back at the top of the order, senior Maria Van Abel walked, bringing in another Badger run and giving UW its first lead of the day.
A single from Miler brought in two runs and secured an 8-5 lead for the Badgers. In all, Wisconsin produced seven runs on four hits in the third inning.
The Illini came back with a run in the bottom of the third and one more in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to one run.
Two Wisconsin errors plagued the Badger defense in the bottom of the fifth inning as they gave up three runs off of four hits and the two miscues.
The Illini took the lead back and had a 10-8 advantage after five innings.
The Wisconsin offense couldn't generate any hits over the final two innings while the Illini capped off the 12-8 victory with two final runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
"I think we just really struggled to make some plays but it was nice to see the bats going," Healy said. "I think we just need to see what we can build on. Defensively, there were a lot of things that really hurt us.
"There were plays that you just have to make when you're facing an offense as good as Illinois. When you make errors and tough plays that kids didn't come up with, it's going to hurt. I think Taylor stayed composed through it all and I think we walked away learning a lot from this weekend."
Wisconsin finished with seven hits to Illinois' 15.
The Badgers return home for a doubleheader against Western Illinois on Tuesday, April 21 at 3 p.m.
