COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Wisconsin softball team took the first game against the Maryland Terrapins winning 1-0 before falling in seven innings in game two by a score of 4-3.
The Badgers (24-19, 9-10) got the first game off to a hot start in the first inning with two hits, including a Kayla Konwent single and a double from Skylar Sirdashney. The Badgers looked to get on the scoreboard first when Katie Keller, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning, was thrown out at home on Sirdashney's double to the wall. Brooke Kuffel ended the inning with a ground out to the shortstop, and the Terrapins (32-16, 8-11) held UW scoreless.
Wisconsin's next offensive action came in the third inning, with a Peyton Bannon single through the five-six hole, but was left stranded followed by two consecutive ground outs.
Maryland looked to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning as the home team loaded the bases full of Terrapin runners, but Maddie Schwartz got out of the jam on a ground out the next play, leaving UMD scoreless.
The top of the fifth looked promising for Wisconsin as both Rylie Crane and Peyton Bannon singled to kick off the inning. Senior Kayla Konwent was then hit-by-pitch in her at-bat, and loaded the bases with one out. However, clutch-hitting woes continued for UW as the next two batters lined out and filed out, and the Badgers were unable to plate a run.
Fifth year, Maddie Schwartz kept the Badgers in the game and kept Maryland guessing as she sat down the next six-of-seven batters and keep the game scoreless.
In the team's last chance at-bats, Wisconsin's Christaana Angelopulos drew a walk and Rylie Crane reached on a fielders choice. Peyton Bannon then placed a sacrifice bunt down to move the two runners into scoring position. Kayla Konwent found her way to first on another walk, the second of the inning, and put Katie Keller in a position to bring home Wisconsin's first run.
Keller delivered with a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Bree Mitchell, running for Angelopulos to score. The Badgers took control of a 1-0 lead and secured the victory in the bottom of the inning.
Maddie Schwartz (9-12) was the winning pitcher throwing a complete seven innings and giving up just five hits while striking out four and successfully keeping the Terrapins off the board.
GAME TWO
The Badgers first hit of the second game of the doubleheader came in the top of the second on a Molly Schlosser single. Maryland then responded with two hits, including a triple and an RBI single, to give the home team the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.
Wisconsin was determined to take control back in the top of the third as team leaders Katie Keller and Kayla Konwent both singled to put two Badgers on the bases. Brooke Kuffel sent a shot to the outfield to score Keller and Marytherese Nevin, who was pinch-running for Konwent and Wisconsin held the 2-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth Maryland leveled the game with a solo home run. The Terrapins then utilized small ball and placed a squeeze bunt down towards the third base line to bring in the runner at third for the go-ahead score of 3-2.
Both the Badgers and the Maryland Terrapins remained hitless in the final three innings of the game and Maryland held on to its one run lead.
Tessa Magnanimo was the starting pitcher and appeared on the mound for three innings while letting up four hits and three runs. Paytn Monticelli then came in for 2.1 innings and struck out four.
"Batting Cleanup"
- Kayla Konwent has now been walked 33 times this season, which places her at second in the Big Ten
Up Next: The Badgers have one more game against the Maryland Terrapins tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. with a chance to win the series before Wisconsin will return home to take on Iowa for the final series of the regular season.
