In softball, one person can have a dramatic outcome on the game. For the University of Wisconsin softball team Saturday, that person was the home plate umpire, as the Badgers dropped both games of a doubleheader at home to Illinois.
In the top of the sixth inning of game two, the score was tied 2-2. UW pitcher Leah Vanevenhoven had allowed University of Illinois’ Hope Howell to reach third after a walk, wild pitch and balk. Vanevenhoven retired the next batter before UI’s Lana Armstrong smacked the first pitch she saw on the ground along the first base foul line. UW first baseman Alexis Garcia made a diving stop to her left to prevent extra bases and had time to throw the ball home as Howell attempted to score. It appeared that catcher Dana Rasmussen blocked the plate and made the tag in time, though the home plate umpire called Howell safe, giving UI a 3-2 lead. UW head coach Chandelle Schulte argued the decision to no avail.
“It was a bad call … I think clearly that changed the game,” Schulte said. “I was shocked that he made that call, I thought it was very obvious she was out. We still got to battle, but that really takes the [wind] out of you and you hate for it to come down to an official’s call.”
That run proved to be the decider, as the Badgers went down in order over their final two half innings to lose 3-2. It was not the ending UW had in mind, especially after being blown out 8-0 in the first game and playing much better in the second contest. Vanevenhoven did about all she could, limiting a dangerous Illinois offense to three runs on just four hits in her start, following ineffective pitching by Letty Olivarez and Kristyn Hansen in the early game.
UW’s inconsistent performance in doubleheaders has plagued the team all season.
“You know, it’s sort of the same thing over and over again. I just knew coming out that I had to come out strong and be prepared,” Vanevenhoven said. “I just had to make sure I hit my spots, if they hit my balls where I was supposed to pitch them … then good for them.”
The series highlighted a number of problems that have plagued the Badgers over the past couple of weeks. UW’s tendency to play poorly in the first game and rebound in the second was also noted by Schulte.
“It is a disturbing trend,” Schulte said. “There’s no consistency [on our part].”
Wisconsin’s seasonlong struggles on offense were on display as well, as the Badgers were no-hit by UI pitcher Monica Perry, making her the first Illini player in history to no-hit a Big Ten opponent. UW managed only two baserunners in the game and neither advanced past first.
The only Wisconsin highlight in the game was a spectacular diving catch by centerfielder Jen Krueger to rob UI’s Kelley Wedel of an extra base hit.
Krueger’s catch was one of the few times the Badgers managed to keep the Illini off the bases, as UI finished that game with 12 hits in the six innings played. Illinois’ Danielle Zymkowitz went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, finishing the game with a .475 batting average.
In the second game, Vanevenhoven fared much better against the Illini hitters, as only three players got hits. Zymkowitz went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt, though it was news to the pitcher.
“Which one was she, the No. 1 hitter?” Vanevenhoven said. “I knew a couple of them had been on fire and hitting really well in the Big Ten … [I was] just trying to hit my spots and not let them beat me.”
Despite the improved pitching in the latter game, UW’s offense let the Badgers down once again. Wisconsin’s inability to consistently get timely hits meant a strong team effort wasn’t enough for a win.
“We were getting one and two hits with two outs, but they were off of [the] short game, so we had nothing to capitalize on,” Schulte said. “Still though, I thought we played well enough to win, and we didn’t.”
