Badgers come from behind to split series with Spartans

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In one of the largest comebacks in school history, the UW softball team (23-19, 3-5) scored 11 unanswered runs in an 11-8 win over Michigan State (21-16, 3-5) Sunday in the second game of a double-header.

With the win, the Badgers split the doubleheader with the Spartans after dropping the first game 7-5.

Before splitting the doubleheader with the Spartans, the Badgers earned a split against Northwestern with a 4-2 win and a 4-0 loss in Evanston, Ill.

In the Michigan State game, catcher Boo Gillette went 4-4 with a school record six RBI, and shortstop Kris Zacher hit 3-3 with three runs scored in the win.

After struggling in her game one start, pitcher Katie Layne surrendered two runs in the first inning on two hits, three walks and a hit batter. With the bases loaded and two outs, Layne walked in a pair of runs, hitting Michigan State’s Elizabeth Peterson with a pitch and walking Janette Hurtado.

Layne’s struggles continued in the second, as Michigan State slugger Angel Merren led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jessica Beech.

Layne lasted just one and two-thirds innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits and three walks. With two outs in the second inning, the Badgers turned to reliever Megan Smith, who was unable to slow down the Spartans’ attack. Smith lasted just two-thirds of an inning and allowed three runs on four hits.

In the third, a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt placed two Spartans in scoring position with one out for Merren, who brought both runners home with a two-run single. Two batters later, Merren scored on Beech’s second sacrifice fly of the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Badgers chased Spartans’ starter Christy McGrew with a three-run inning. Back-to-back singles by Zacher and Gillette put a pair of runners on for Diana Consolmagno, who came through with an RBI double.

After McGrew left in the fourth, the Spartans turned to All-American Jessica Beech. The Badgers were not intimidated by the All-American hurler, plating a run on a sac fly from Anastasia Miller. Tara Hamilton brought the score to 6-3 with an RBI single that plated Consolmagno. Michigan State finally ended the inning when Merran robbed Natalie Phillips with a diving catch.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Badgers rocked All-American Beech for four runs. Gillette knocked in a pair of runs with an RBI double to open the inning. The hit was her 14th double of the year, a UW single-season record.

After Gillette’s double made the score 6-5, an infield single from Consolmagno put runners on the corners. A wild pitch from Beech allowed Gillette to race home from third to score the tying run and Hamilton put the Badgers in front with her second RBI single of the day.

Wisconsin tacked on four insurance runs on a Gillette grand slam, her second grand slam of the season.

The Spartans rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, but could not overcome the Badgers’ remarkable charge. In the loss, Michigan State out-hit Wisconsin 15-13 and left 10 runners on base.

Eden Brock took the win with four and two-thirds innings in relief of Layne and Smith. Brock allowed two run on seven hits and struck out two in the victory.