The UW softball team opened the season with a 2-3 record at the UNLV Classic this weekend.
UW wrapped up play Sunday morning by posting a 3-1 win over the host Rebels.
The Badgers opened the scoring in the bottom half of the third inning to go ahead 1-0. Emily Friedman led off the frame with a double to left then advanced to third on a single by Natalie Phillips. Friedman then scored on a passed ball by UNLV catcher Brittney Hillyer.
UNLV tied the game in the top of the fourth, scoring a somewhat controversial run. With no one out and a runner on first, UW shortstop Kris Zacher tagged out Bridget Byrne attempting to reach second, but Amber Campbell reached first safely on the fielder’s choice.
Pitcher Eden Brock had the ball in the pitcher’s circle when Campbell broke for second base. Though play should have been dead, it was ruled that Campbell was allowed to remain at second base. Two base hits later, Campbell came around to score, knotting the game 1-1.
Wisconsin took advantage of a pair of Rebel errors in the bottom of the fifth inning to score the go-ahead run. With one away, Zacher singled, Sam Polito reached on an error and Athena Vasquez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.
Kacey Ellis then came on to replace starting pitcher Jacqueline Kerrigan and got Boo Gillette to ground into a forceout at the plate. However, catcher Carly Petracco’s ensuing throw to first was errant, allowing Polito to come around and score.
The Badgers added an important insurance run in the sixth. With two outs and runners at first and second, Zacher came to the plate. She hit a grounder through the box that deflected off the leg of Ellis, allowing a hustling Anastasia Miller to come all the way around from second to score. Miller slid in just ahead of the throw from UNLV second baseman Morgan Bostwick.
The Rebels attempted to rally in the top of the seventh, putting runners at first and third with only one out, but Brock got Lisa Sampson to ground to Emily Friedman at second. Friedman tagged the runner and flipped to first for a game-ending double play.
Brock scattered eight hits and allowed just one run while striking out two and walking one. Brock improved to 2-1 on the season. Zacher and Miller led UW offensively with two hits apiece.
Wisconsin began play at the UNLV Classic on Friday with a pair of games against LSU and UC Riverside. UW dropped the season opener to LSU 10-1 before rebounding to drum Riverside 10-2.
The Badgers dropped a Saturday afternoon nail biter to the Rainbow Wahine of Hawai’i 7-5 in extra innings. April Crowell won the game for Hawai’i in the ninth inning with a two run single after the Badgers had rallied to tie the game in the sixth.
Later that day, UW ran into a buzz saw in the form of No. 1 UCLA. The defending champs blanked the Badgers 8-0 on the strength of All-American Keira Goerl’s no-hitter.
The Badgers hit the road this Friday for Tempe, Arizona and the ASU Louisville Slugger Classic.
— compiled from staff reports
