Jordan Little DePaul
Jack McLaughlin
7
Wisconsin WIS 15-12
9
Winner Ohio State OSU 20-7
Wisconsin WIS
15-12
7
Final
9
Ohio State OSU
20-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Wisconsin WIS 1 3 0 2 0 1 0 7 4 3
Ohio State OSU 2 1 0 1 0 5 X 9 12 0

W: Duvall, Kat (1-0) L: Menz, Kaitlyn (8-7)

Game Recap: Softball |

Late surge helps Buckeyes to 9-7 victory over Badgers

Little and Welsh hit big-time doubles in setback

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Wisconsin softball team lost a tough one on Friday night after holding the lead over No. 24 Ohio State for the majority of the game, but a late OSU surge in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Buckeyes a 9-7 win over the Badgers.

Wisconsin (15-12 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) took an early 1-0 lead thanks to back-to-back walks for Taylor Johnson and Cross, which set it up perfectly for Stephanie Lombardo to drive in Johnson with an RBI single. But the Buckeyes (20-7, 1-3) answered right back, taking advantage of two hits and two errors to take a 2-1 lead.

However, the Badger outfielders drilled some big hits in the second inning to help UW capture a lead it didn't give up until the bottom of the sixth. Jordan Little started the scoring frenzy knocking a double to her home in right field, and then Kelly Welsh followed suit and blasted a double to her place in center field. A final run was tacked on when Melanie Cross was walked with the bases loaded, giving Wisconsin a 4-2 edge.

The Badgers added two more runs in the top of the fourth via a sacrifice fly from freshman Taylor Johnson, the second of her career. Senior Brooke Wyderski scored in a play that caught junior Gabby Scherle stealing second, extending the Badgers' lead to 6-3. OSU's Niki Carver homered in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Wisconsin advantage to 6-4.

UW added another security run in the top of the sixth when a fielder's choice allowed Heather Rudnicki to touch home.

OSU took control in the bottom of the sixth, using a single, double and walk to load the bases for Emily Clark, who singled up the middle and scored two runs, making it a one-run game. But a two-RBI bomb gave Ohio State a 9-7 lead.

The win was the Buckeyes' first Big Ten win of the year while UW suffered its first conference loss of the year.

Batting Cleanup – 4 Notes to Know:
  • In her first appearance back after an injury, junior Stephanie Lombardo hit an RBI single to put the Badgers on the board first, driving in Taylor Johnson.
  • Kelsey Jenkins has reached base in 27-consecutive games, giving her the second-highest streak in UW history, only behind herself. She claimed the record with 31 games in 2017.
  • Jordan Little hit her second career double and it was her second hit of the season.
  • The Badgers are still on the hunt for their first win in Columbus since April 4, 2004.
On Deck: The Badgers and Buckeyes will be right back at it Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT.
 
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