UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 25 Wisconsin softball team made quick work of Penn State Friday night, shutting them out in five innings by a score of 13-0. The Badgers (25-5 overall, 2-2 B1G) overpowered Penn State, earning a 9-1 advantage in hits.
After a quiet first two innings, sophomore
Taylor Johnson blasted the game wide open with a three-run homer to left field. She scored
Ally Miklesh and
Kayla Konwent to give UW a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning the Badger bats could not be stopped as UW scored five runs before the first out of the frame. In all, Wisconsin notched eight runs off five hits and a PSU error. A
Stephanie Lombardo double highlighted the onslaught. The senior scored three on her bomb to right field.
Back-to-back doubles from Konwent and Johnson got things going in the fifth inning. Johnson scored pinch runner
Sydney Lawson on her hit to right center. The Badgers would tack on one more run in the inning on a PSU throwing error to seal the 13-0 series-opening win.
Junior
Kaitlyn Menz pitched a stellar 3.1 innings for tonight's win. She only allowed one hit and two walks while dealing three strikeouts. Freshman
Maddie Schwartz pitched the final 1.2 innings, retiring the final five batters in order.
Batting clean-up: Four notes to know
- Konwent led the Badgers with three hits and she reached base in all four of her plate appearances.
- Johnson tied her career high of five RBI and also scored three runs for UW. Her home run in the third inning was her eighth of the season.
- Menz picked up her 10th win of the season in tonight's shutout.
- The Badgers are a perfect 6-0 this season when scoring 10 or more runs.
On deck
The Badgers and Nittany Lions will meet again tomorrow for game two of the conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m (CT).
