Katie Keller hitting the ball
Ashley Steltenpohl
6
Winner Northwestern NU 27-9
3
Wisconsin WIS 22-13
Winner
Northwestern NU
27-9
6
Final
3
Wisconsin WIS
22-13
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Northwestern NU 0 1 1 0 1 3 0 0 6 8 0
Wisconsin WIS 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 X 3 8 0

W: Henry, Cami (10-1) L: Monticelli, Paytn (5-2) S: Williams, Danielle (3)

4
Winner Northwestern NU 28-9
3
Wisconsin WIS 22-14
Winner
Northwestern NU
28-9
4
Final
3
Wisconsin WIS
22-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Northwestern NU 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 7 1
Wisconsin WIS 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 8 3

W: Williams, Danielle (11-1) L: Schwartz, Maddie (8-9)

Game Recap: Softball | | Peyton Cox

Badgers lose to Northwestern in final two games of the series

Wisconsin fell to the Wildcats in both games of doubleheader

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin softball team fell in both games of the doubleheader against No. 20 Northwestern to close out the home series at Goodman. 

GAME ONE

In the same situation as yesterday's game, the Wildcats (28-9, 13-1) found themselves in a prime position to score with the bases loaded in the top of the second. With two outs and a full count, a checked swing was called, and a walk was drawn, plating the first Northwestern run of the game.  

Two hits and another Wildcat run was scored in the third inning to give the visitors the 2-0 lead. However, UW's Katie Keller did not allow Northwestern to get comfortable in their advantage as the graduate transfer blasted one just inside the right field foul pole to the warning tracks for her fifth home run of the season. Brooke Kuffel added another hit, her eighth straight game with one, however, she was stranded.

Northwestern responded back with a solo homer to regain the two-run lead with a score of 3-1 in the fifth. Kayla Konwent then doubled in the bottom of the inning and with Brooke Kuffel made her way on base after bring hit by a pitch but nothing came out of the runners in scoring position.

A sacrifice fly and a 2 RBI single gave Northwestern three more runs and a 6-1 advantage in the sixth inning. Rylie Crane and Peyton Bannon then both singled to pressure the NU defense and give momentum to the Badger offense, but were once again stranded.

Katie Keller continued to swing a hot bat as she ripped her second home run of the game, for the second time this week, scoring her and Molly Schlosser who had previously been walked. Suddenly, Wisconsin cut the Wildcat lead and started a seventh-inning rally. Brooke Kuffel continued the rally with another single, but with three straight outs following the hit, the game ended with a score of 6-3.

Paytn Monticelli (5-2)  started the game on the mound and threw 2.2 innings giving up three hits and two runs in her outing. Tessa Magnanimo came in and struck out two while allowing four runs and four hits in her 3.1-inning appearance. Gabi Salo closed out the seventh inning and gave up just one hit while doing so. 

GAME TWO

Wisconsin's Molly Schlosser had the game's first hit for the Badgers on a bunt single in the third inning, her first hit of the day. Northwestern, however, scored the game's first runs with three hits and three runs in the top of the fourth to obtain the 3-0 lead.

Wisconsin (22-14, 7-5) got on the board shortly after starting with a Katie Keller double off the top of the wall. Ellie Hubbard brought in Keller the next at-bat with a single through the infield, allowing Keller to easily score in the bottom of the inning.

Skylar Sirdashney singled in the fifth inning in an attempt to get the bats going but was sent back to the dugout the next at-bat on a double play. 

Things remained quiet until the seventh inning rally initiated by freshman Emily Bojan who came in the game to pinch hit and singled to right field. Molly Schlosser was up next and crushed the ball over the center field wall in a moment she took full advantage of scoring her and Bojan to level the game at three. 

Into extra innings the game went, and the intensity only increased as both teams searched for the winning run. Northwestern found it in the top of the ninth on a ball to left field that Peyton Bannon laid out for while making the diving catch, however, the Wildcat runner on third was able to tag up and score at home. 

The bottom of the inning looked promising with a two-out double from Ava Kuszak, the second freshman of the game to pinch-hit and deliver. With that hit, Kayla Konwent was due next and the Wildcats made the decision to walk her intentionally, only to face Katie Keller. Unfortunately, Keller struck out swinging and the game ended with a final score of 4-3. 

Maddie Schwartz (8-9) pitched a complete nine innings, giving up four runs in eight hits while striking out four batters in her appearance.

Batting Cleanup

  • With over 1,200 fans in the first game, Goodman Diamond hosted the 11th biggest crowd in history

  • Molly Schlossers' seventh-inning, game-tying home run was the first home run of her career

  • Emily Bojan is now 5-for-7 on the year while coming in to pinch hit and has a .714 batting average
     

Up Next: Due to forecasted weather, tomorrow's game was moved to the doubleheader today, therefore, the Badgers won't play until next Wednesday. The team will remain home for a double header against Minnesota, with the first game set for 3:00 p.m. CT.

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