Wisconsin Badgers
14-1
Princeton
1-4
Badgers split games at Sun Devil Classic
March 01, 2019 | Softball
UW run rules Princeton before falling to No. 9 Texas
PRINCETON
Back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning led the Badgers to their 11th-straight victory. With one run already in, Stephanie Lombardo hit a two-RBI dinger for the second and third runs of the inning. In the next at bat, Caroline Hedgcock followed suit with another homer for the fourth score of the fourth.
It didn't take long for the Badgers to get started. Three walks in the first inning proved costly when Hedgcock singled to score Taylor Johnson and Kelly Welsh hit a sacrifice fly scored Kayla Konwent.
Wisconsin doubled its lead to 4-0 in the second inning via two doubles, one from Johnson and the other from Lombardo.
The Badgers secured a run rule victory in the top of the fifth frame with the final three runs. Senior Melanie Cross scored freshman Ally Miklesh on a single up the middle. Princeton's pitching woes continued after a change in the circle, with Hedgcock tallying an RBI via a bases loaded hit by pitch and Kelly Welsh drawing a bases loaded walk before the Tigers could end the inning.
Sophomore pitcher Haley Hestekin fanned a season-best seven batters en route to her seventh win of the season.
TEXAS
It took some time for Wisconsin to find its rhythm against No. 9 Texas, but the Badgers were able to muster up four hits and one run late in the game.
Texas scored a run in the second inning and four runs in the third for an early 5-0 lead.
Konwent stepped up to the plate and smacked a solo long ball with two outs in the sixth inning for UW's only run of the game.
Freshman Maddie Schwartz pitched a solid 4.1 innings in relief with three strikeouts and no runs allowed.
Batting clean-up: Four notes to know
- UW extended its best start in program history to 14-1 after beating Princeton.
- Lombardo and Hedgcock each tallied a game-high three RBI in game one.
- Hedgcock has hit four homers in the last eight games.
- The Wisconsin pitchers only allowed one walk in their 12 combined innings in the circle.
On deck
The Badgers will get another shot at No. 9 Texas tomorrow at 1 p.m. before facing No. 15 Arizona State at 6:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hestekin, Haley (7-1)
L: Wilkinson, Riley (0-0)
Batting:
2B: Johnson, Taylor 1 ; Lombardo, Stephanie 1
HR: Lombardo, Stephanie 1 ; Hedgcock, Caroline 1
RBI: Johnson, Taylor 1 ; Cross, Melanie 2 ; Lombardo, Stephanie 3 ; Hedgcock, Caroline 3 ; Welsh, Kelly 2
SH: Miklesh, Ally 1
SF: Cross, Melanie 1 ; Welsh, Kelly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Taylor 2 ; Konwent, Kayla 2 ; Scherle, Gabby 1 ; Lawson, Sydney 1 ; Turner, Tyra 1 ; Lombardo, Stephanie 1 ; Hedgcock, Caroline 1 ; Little, Jordan 1 ; Miklesh, Ally 1
SB: Miklesh, Ally 1
CS: Johnson, Taylor 1 ; Lombardo, Stephanie 1
HBP: Konwent, Kayla 1 ; Hedgcock, Caroline 1
Batting:
2B: Grant, Kaylee 1 ; Meyer, Mackenzie 1
HR: Walsh, Keeley 1
RBI: Walsh, Keeley 1 ; Hoffman, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walsh, Keeley 1 ; Meyer, Mackenzie 1
