It took two extra innings, but the Badger softball team (10-2 Big Ten, 28-21) was able to defeat the Illinois-Chicago Flames (10-4 Horizon League, 35-24) 8-7. Senior right fielder Natalie Phillips' RBI single assured a Badger victory in their final game of the season at Goodman Diamond, after UW let a three-run lead go to waste in the seventh inning.
With the victory, the Badgers tied the season series with the Flames and increased their winning streak to five games. UW has won 15 out of its last 17 games going into its series against rival Minnesota this coming weekend.
Three outs away from a victory in the seventh inning, Wisconsin allowed UIC to make its way back into the game. Sophomore starter Eden Brock allowed three consecutive singles and head coach Karen Gallagher had seen enough. Gallagher turned to senior Katie Layne to attempt her fourth save of the year.
Layne, however, could not convert on the opportunity. UIC first-basemen Lauren Brennan singled to right field to bring in one run. Layne then followed up a strikeout with a hit batter and a walk, allowing UIC to tie the game. Brock re-entered the game and induced an inning-ending groundout.
Despite the missed opportunities the first time around, Gallagher was content to come away with the victory.
\A win is a win,"" Gallagher said after the game.
After trading runs in the eighth inning, Phillips sent Badger fans home happy in the ninth.
Brock finished the game as the winning pitcher, allowing six earned runs and scattering 11 hits through 8.2 innings. Brock also struck out a career-high 10 batters and did not record a single walk.
The offensive star of the game was sophomore second baseman Athena Vazquez, going 2-of-4 with three RBIs and one run. The three RBIs came in a four-run fifth inning for the Badgers, in which Vazquez cleared the bases with a double to left center. She also picked up a triple and later scored on a fielder's choice.
The Flames' freshman Mercedes Lovato took the loss, despite not allowing an earned run in 3.2 innings of relief. Junior Brittany McIntyre got pounded by the Badgers, giving up six earned runs and nine hits in 4.2 innings.
The Badgers head to Minnesota to take on the Gophers for a weekend set starting Saturday. Brock is confident going into the border battle that the Badgers can be successful against a weak pitching staff.
""Their pitching staff isn't very strong from what I've been told, so I think we have a good chance of sweeping,"" she said.
Following the Minnesota matchup, the Badgers will head to the Big Ten Tournament for the first time in three years Thursday May 12.
