BOCA RATON, Fla. – The UW softball team began its opening day of the season by splitting games Friday night in the FAU First Pitch Classic. After waiting out a four-hour rain delay, the Badgers fell to Indiana State 2-1 late in the game but bounced back in a 5-1 win over Florida Atlantic to close out the night.
INDIANA STATE
It was a slow offensive start for both teams as Wisconsin shut out the Sycamores at the top of the first inning going three up and three down. Followed by an inning with a sole base hit from
Kayla Konwent that ended the inning tied 0-0. The two teams battled in the second, but it wouldn't be until the top of the third that the Sycamores would put a score on the board from a sacrifice bunt that would advance the runner on third base, home.
The Badgers answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Jolie Fish hit a single up the middle to start, and
Tyra Turner stepped in to pinch run on first. Turner's solid base-running, stealing second and third, put UW in their first position to score.
Morgan Kummer hit her first career RBI as a Badger, and Turner tied the game for the Badgers as she crossed home plate.
Indiana State quickly turned around and answered the score from a double with a runner on second. The Badger defense was able to hold them to a single score that inning but ultimately fell to the Sycamores by striking out twice in the bottom of the seventh.
Junior
Haley Hestekin was in charge of the pitcher's circle for all seven innings and recorded a lone strikeout in the top of the sixth.
FAU
The Wisconsin softball team was able to reload and refocus in a late-night game to conclude their opening day. The team quickly got the bats going in the top of the second inning.
Caroline Hedgcock was walked, and freshman,
Abby Herbst sent home
Alli Clark, who pinch ran for Hedgcock with a double out to left field.
Heather Rudnicki pinch ran for Herbst and stole third while
Jolie Fish was up to bat.
Fish had a sacrifice bunt that allowed for Rudnicki to score and further UW's lead 2-0. The Owls were scoreless in the bottom of the second.
Konwent started off the third by being intentionally walked, and Turner stepped in to run the bases. Turner used her speed to steal second and third base, and would eventually score off the RBI from
Morgan Kummer.
At the bottom of the third inning, FAU scored off a double with a runner on second. The third inning closed with a 3-1 lead for the Badgers.
The bats stayed quiet for both teams up until Wisconsin got in a groove at the top of the sixth. Johnson started it off with a base hit, followed by a single from Kummer. Johnson turned the third base and scored off a throwing error by the Owls. Hedgcock batted in Kummer with a ground out to first base pushing UW to a 5-1 lead. Neither team scored the rest of the game.
Senior pitcher
Kaitlyn Menz played a solid seven innings and recorded eight strikeouts to keep the Owl under control.
Notes to know
- Freshman Abby Herbst made her collegiate debut for the Badgers and recorded two hits and an RBI.
- Tyra Turner stole a total of four bases as a pinch runner for the Badgers.
- Kaitlyn Menz stayed sharp in the pitcher's circle striking out the Owls eight times.
On Deck
The Wisconsin softball team will continue play in the FAU First Pitch Classic with an 8 a.m. game against Bethune-Cookman, followed by a 12:30 p.m. game against Northern Illinois.
