AUSTIN, Texas. - Kayla Konwent went 3-for-6 on Saturday, helping the Wisconsin softball team to split on day two of the Bevo Classic. The Badgers defeated Texas State for a clean sweep over the Bobcats, 4-3, before falling to No. 9 Texas by a final score of 7-4.
TEXAS STATE
Both offenses came out firing as the first inning sparked six runs between the two teams, with the Bobcats (17-7) scoring two in the top of the inning and Wisconsin (12-8) firing right back, scoring four.
The Bobcats took an early 2-0 lead thanks to a couple hits and a Badger throwing error, but Wisconsin bounced back and did not let their defensive troubles the first inning, dictage the offense.Two straight singles by Skylar Sirdashney and Katie Keller led things off for Wisconsin. Kayla Kownent found her way on base after being hit by a pitch, to load the baes. Molly Schlosser then hit a ground ball to second, giving Sirdashney enough time to score at home. Ellie Hubbard then laced a 2-RBI single to left center, and Nevin, pinch-running for Konwent, and Keller crossed the plate. Freshman Rylie Crane continued her hot streak as the Arizona native added another single to her weekend, scoring Hubbard following an error by the Bobcat's left fielder. Wisconsin closed out the inning up 4-2 despite going down early.
Both Texas State and Wisconsin doubled in the second inning; however, Sirdashney was thrown out at home on Keller's double hit to left center, whereas the Bobcats were able to plate a runner to cut the Badgers lead 4-3 in the second inning. Keller led Wisconsin with a 3-for-3 performance in the game.
Up 4-3 in the top of the seventh, Maddie Schwartz went one-two-three to secure the win for the Badgers and deny a chance for a Bobcat comeback.
The Badgers pitched by committee to keep the Bobcats at bay. Tessa Magnanimo came in the second inning for Monticelli after the freshman gave up three runs. Magnanimo threw two strikeouts and allowed two hits in her 2.1 innings and earn her first win of the seaseon. Schwartz came in the top of the fifth, throwing three solid innings, denying the Texas State of a hit and earn the save.
NO. 9 TEXAS
The Wisconsin Badgers came out playing with something to prove in the rematch against No. 9 Texas (21-2-1) on day two. Four straight hits gave the visiting team the lead in the top of the first, and it all started with none other than Kayla Konwent. The grad student singled to third base, and Peyton Bannon ripped a double to left center on the next play. Molly Schlosser carried the momentum with a 2-RBI single through the right side to give Wisconsin the 2-0 advantage. Ellie Hubbard continued things with a single of her own, however, both her and Schlosser were left stranded the following at-bat.
Texas defended their house in the bottom of the inning and responded with a 2-run homer to level the score. The Longhorns continued to impress on offense scoring three more runs in the second inning off of three hits and an error by Wisconsin's defense. Senior pitcher Tessa Magnanimo came up big in order to minimize the damage done, picking up a massive strikeout in the bottom of the second on a 3-2 count with bases loaded.
Another Texas run was added in the bottom of the fourth when Longhorns sophomore Mia Scott sent a single to right center and Alyssa Washington brought her in with a two out double to extend Texas' lead to 6-2.
Wisconsin continued to battle against the Longhorns and was able to minimize the deficit in the fifth inning. Katie Keller was hit by a pitch and Kayla Konwent made the Longhorns pay, knocking a 2-run bomb out of McCombs Field, and the Badgers were back in it with a score of 6-4. Ellie Hubbard grabbed ahold of her second single of the game but two-straight strikeouts following left her on first base.
Texas responded right back in the bottom half of the inning and scored an insurance run to go up 7-4. The Badger's defense picked up another error on a ground ball to second base, and with a single hit to the left-center later that inning, the error ended up costing Wisconsin a run.
A hitless next two innings for the Badgers diminished the chance for a potential comeback and the team fell to the No. Texas Longhorns with a final score of 7-4.
Gabi Salo earned the start on the mound after the impressive numbers she had put up in the six games. The junior threw just 1.2 innings after the Longhorns were able to score five runs (one earned) in four hits off of Salo. Tessa Magnanimo came in for relief and didn't give up a hit or a run in the 1.1 innings she pitched. Veteran Maddie Schwartz closed the game for Wisconsin and scatter four hits, two runs, and one strikeout in her 3.0 innings.
Up Next: The Badgers will face the No. 10 Alabama for one more game of the Bevo Classic at 9:30 a.m. CT before heading home to prepare for Big Ten play.
