Wisconsin Badgers
Illinois State University
Badgers fly past Redbirds in both games of doubleheader
September 24, 2016 | Softball
UW opens fall season with back-to-back wins at Goodman Diamond
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin softball team opened its fall season with bang on Saturday, sweeping Illinois State 1-0 and 6-1 in a doubleheader at Goodman Diamond.
Sophomore Kelly Welsh led the UW offense with five RBI on the day, while junior transfer Brooke Wyderski scored two runs.
Freshman Kaitlyn Menz started in the circle in the first game of the doubleheader, facing only seven batters to make quick work of the first two innings. The Badgers struck in the bottom of the second inning when Welsh singled to bring in Wyderski for the 1-0 Wisconsin lead.
Wisconsin held off the Redbird offense for the remainder of the game despite a close call in the top of the fifth inning. A pop fly to right field gave ISU the opportunity to advance its runners, but a rocket from senior Chloe Miller beat the runner to home plate to preserve the Badgers' 1-0 advantage.
UW outhit Illinois State 8-3 in game one, committing no errors, while Menz threw three strikeouts and a shutout to start the Badgers' fall season. Freshman Kayla Konwent, two-time Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, recorded a game-high three hits.
The Badgers wasted no time in game two, as junior Kelsey Jenkins stole home in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin opened up its lead in the sixth inning, scoring five runs in the bottom of the frame. Junior Samantha Arents doubled to center field, bringing home senior Sara Novak to give the Badgers a 2-0 lead, before Welsh hit a homerun over left field to score Arents, Wyderski and freshman Jordan Little for a 6-0 lead.
The Redbirds were able to score a run in the top of the seventh inning, but the Wisconsin lead was too much to overcome. The Badgers outhit Illinois State 8-4 in game two.
Wisconsin continues its fall season in Chicago, traveling to face the University of Illinois-Chicago on Oct. 1 before meeting DePaul on Oct. 2. The first game of the doubleheader with UIC is set to start at 2 p.m.
