AUSTIN, Texas. - The Wisconsin softball team extended their win streak to nine straight games in the first matchup against Texas State, winning 4-2 before falling to No. 9 Texas in the next game, 5-1.
TEXAS STATE
Although Skylar Sirdashney started things off strong for the Badgers with a lead-off single, the Bobcats didn't allow another hit for nearly three innings. Wisconsin had only five hits in the game but found a way to slew together four runs when it mattered most.
Molly Schlosser singled to center field in the fourth and proceeded to steal second base on the next play, however, Wisconsin could not capitalize on the runner in scoring position and left her stranded.
Rylie Crane did the same in the fifth inning, singling to third to make it four-straight games the freshman tallied a hit.
Texas State's offense was just as quiet due to the stellar pitching from Gabi Salo. The junior pitcher kept the Bobcats hit-less through five innings of work. Through 8.2 innings of work, Salo surrendered just four hits while striking out three. didn't give up a single hit in five innings to improve to 4-0 on the season.
With one inning to score in regulation, Peyton Bannon ripped a double to left center, yet once again, the Badgers were unable to bring her in. With seven innings down, the score remained locked at zero, forcing the game to extra innings.
In the eighth, the Bobcats attempted to score, but Skylar Sirdashney made the play at home to deny the Texas State runner. Sirdashney was then placed at second in the top of the ninth with the international tie breaker rule in effect. Katie Keller reached first on an error, and Sirdashney was able to advance to third. Molly Schlosser put down a squeeze bunt, and all runners were ruled safe, including Sirdashney at home for the first run of the game.
With a walk, hit by pitch, and fielders choices the Badgers were able to keep the inning going and add to the run total. Christaana Angelopulos capitalized on the momentum and hit a 2-RBI single, and Wisconsin went up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Bobcats attempted to comeback scoring two runs, both unearned, but Maddie Schwartz came in to close the game following the two runs and struck out the next batter to end the nine-inning contest.
Wisconsin extended its win streak to nine straight games, tied for the second-longest road game win streak in program history, winning 4-2.
NO. 9 TEXAS
Paytn Monticelli got the start on the mound and came out firing, striking out the side for a quick one-two-three inning for the Badgers. She was the first pitcher to do that to Texas' first three hitters this year. The following inning didn't go quite as smoothly with the Longhorns starting the bottom of the second with a double down the right field line. A wild pitch advanced the runner to third, and a deep sac fly the next at-bat allowed Texas to score its first run.
Two more Texas singles tested Wisconsin's defense in the bottom of the fourth, but the Badgers were able to strand the runners and get out of the inning down by only one. Unfortunately, a dropped foul ball in the fifth proved to be costly and set the tone for the inning. An RBI triple the next at-bat scored another run for the Longhorns. The offensive rally continued as the Big 12 team chalked up two more runs to go up 4-0.
Wisconsin remained hitless until the sixth inning when Rylie Crane extended her hit streak to five games after doubling to left field. Skylar Sirdashney carried that momentum into her at-bat and hit a shot to right field to add a single to her stat line. Katie Keller then put the ball in play and reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Crane.
Although the deficit was cut to three, Texas took no time to add another run back. A double and a single brought in one more Longhorn in the bottom of the sixth, and a one-two-three top of the seventh for the Badgers ended the game, 5-1.
Maddie Schwartz was the Badger pitcher to close things out for the team and gave up one run and four hits while doing so. Monticelli ended with four strikeouts, two walks, and scattered six hits in the four innings she pitched.
Up Next: Wisconsin will get a chance to play both Texas State and Texas again tomorrow with the first game starting at 10:00 p.m. against the Bobcats and the second at 4:00 p.m versus Texas.
