PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Wisconsin softball team grinded out another big win at the Mary Nutter Classic Friday afternoon, defeating Fresno State 4-3 in eight innings to pick up their second win of the weekend.
Wisconsin (6-5) collected nine hits to Fresno State's (7-4) ten. Senior Brooke Wyderski a team-high three hits and two RBIs to pace the Badgers.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Menz was stellar from the circle for the second day in a row with a career-high nine strikeouts. The Waukee, Iowa native pitched her fifth complete game of the season and leads UW with five wins on the season.
The Badgers got on the board in the top of the fourth. Melanie Cross ripped a double down the line to score Wyderski who was on base thanks to a single earlier in the frame, for a 3-1 Bulldogs lead after four innings.
A huge fifth inning gave UW a narrow 4-3 lead. Taylor Johnson and Heather Rudnicki drew back-to-back walks to lead things off. Kelly Welsh advanced the runners on a sac bunt. Kelsey Jenkins and Gabby Scherle drew another pair of walks allowing Johnson to score. With the bases still loaded, Wyderski hit a single to right center field for two more runs.
Both teams loaded the bases in the sixth inning but were unable to bring anybody home giving the Badgers a narrow 4-3 lead going into the seventh.
With two outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the second, a Fresno State single knotted things up at 4-4 forcing extra innings.
The Badgers took care of business in the top of the eighth inning. Jordan Little was placed on second and advanced to third of a sacrifice bunt from Johnson. Welsh singled to center giving Wisconsin a 5-4 lead. The scoring didn't stop there, as the Badgers were on a mission. Welsh stole second and got into scoring position just in time for a Jenkins RBI single to left field.
UW would take a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth and the Bulldogs were able to bring one runner home, but the Badgers prevailed and advanced to 2-1 on the weekend.
Notes to know
- Senior Kelsey Jenkins earned her 146th career run to become UW's all-time leader in that category.
- UW was the first opponent this season to beat Fresno State after they had a lead in a game.
- Sophomore Kaitlyn Menz earned a career-high nine strikeouts.
- The Bulldogs left 13 on base while the Badgers only stranded nine runners.
On deck
Tomorrow the Badgers take on Missouri at 11:30 a.m. (CT) and San Jose State at 4:30 p.m. for the third day of the Mary Nutter Classic.
