The Wisconsin softball team edged Minnesota, 3-2, in 12 dramatic innings Sunday in Minneapolis. Sophomore Anastasia Miller had the day's game-winning hit, a blast to the right center field wall.
Senior Erin Barnharst led off the bottom of the 12th with a bloop single to shallow left center field. Junior first baseman Meghann Reiss reached on a fielder's choice and junior left fielder Diana Consolmagno set down a bunt single to put two on with one out. Miller looked at the pay-off pitch and tallied her second hit of the day to score Reiss from second.
It was the Badgers' second longest game in school history and longest contest since playing 16 innings against Penn State April 27, 1997.
The Badgers close the 2003 season with a 19-26 overall record, 7-13 in the Big Ten conference. Sunday marked the final game for seniors Barnharst, pitcher Andrea Kirchberg, and third baseman Mandy Liles.
Kirchberg dominated the Gophers, limiting UM to just one hit through six and two-thirds innings. She tallied 12 strikeouts in the game, pushing her four-year final total to 1,156.
The Wisconsin men's golf team could not manage to pull themselves out of last place in the fourth and final round of the 2003 Big Ten Championship. With a final round 301, the Badgers scored 1206 for all 72 holes at the par-71 Indiana University Golf Course in Bloomington.
Although Wisconsin held 10th place through the first round of the tournament with a 298, the next three rounds proved more difficult, as they would not better that score. The team's second round 301 dropped it into last place. Saturday's 300 and Sunday's 301 kept them seven strokes behind No. 10 Penn State.
Senior Joel Rechlicz found his swing in the fourth round, leading the Badgers with an even par 71, including four birdies and four bogeys. Although it was too little too late, his performance Sunday moved him into a tie for No.45 with scores of 77-80-74-71-302.
Sophomore Brian Brodell maintained the best overall individual finish for the Badgers, shooting his third three-over par 74 of the tournament on Sunday. He finished in a tie for No. 35 with 74-76-74-74-298.
Men and women's track squads participated at the Iowa Twilight in Iowa City Saturday. The men's squad finished with two No. 1 finishes, while the women's team finished with two No. 2 finishes.
Freshman Dan Murray won the 800 meters in 1:50.12 minutes, while the Badgers' 4 x 400-meter relay team won with a season's best and regional qualifying time of 3:10.14 minutes.
Senior Tara Clack finished second for the women's team in the pole vault at 12', while junior Angie Kolanko finished second in the high jump at 5'7\.
