TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Wisconsin softball team dropped a 9-1 decision to No. 12 Alabama at Rhoads Stadium Saturday afternoon before suffering a similar fate against Oregon State Saturday night, falling 5-1.
No. 12 Alabama
A bout of severe weather in the Tuscaloosa area caused a three-hour lightning delay in the top of the second inning. Alabama (35-18) had two runners in scoring position with one out when the game was paused, but pitcher Kaitlyn Menz came out of the delay with back-to-back strikeouts to preserve a scoreless game.
After UA was able to put three runs on the board in the top of the third, the Badgers countered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Kelly Welsh was hit by a pitch and stole second to get into scoring position with the top of the order coming up. Senior Kelsey Jenkins sent her home with a single to left center for her second RBI of the tournament.
Alabama took the game with a six-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Reagan Dykes.
OREGON STATE
After Wisconsin's thrilling come-from-behind win against the Beavers yesterday, it was Oregon State (30-27) who came out on top in the second matchup.
The Badgers (29-23) made one final push in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Gabby Scherle reached on an error and made it to third base when pinch hitter Samantha Arents singled to right field in the next at-bat. In her final at-bat as a Badger, senior Kelsey Jenkins grounded out to the second baseman but scored Scherle in the process. Unfortunately, that's UW could get before OSU grabbed the final out.
The Beavers got on the board with a solo home run in the second and did it again in the fifth, but it was a three-run third inning that put the game out of reach.
A single from Arriola followed by three UW throwing errors led to the first two runs of the inning. Three walks loaded the bases later in the inning and the Beavers sent one more runner home via an infield single.
Batting Cleanup: Four notes to know
- Kelly Welsh scored off of an RBI single from Kelsey Jenkins, the first earned run and second-ever run in regional play against Alabama's Osorio, breaking a 43-inning streak without an earned run in regional play with Osorio in the circle.
- All four Wisconsin pitchers saw time today, with Menz, Hestekin and Morrow pitching against Alabama and Hestekin, Menz and Watts seeing time against Oregon State.
- Senior Kelsey Jenkins recorded UW's lone hit against UA while senior Samantha Arents and freshmen Lauren Foster and Taylor Johnson tallied hits against OSU.
- Jenkins had a team-high two RBI on the day.
