When a team loses its three best hitters, a top pitcher and its head coach after a season, the learning curve is going to be steep the following year. Such is the case for the Wisconsin softball team (1-4), whose lesson started in the Kajikawa Classic on Friday with a win, but ended the weekend with four straight losses to stiff competition.
Errors and big innings doomed the Badgers all weekend, as 10 errors and innings of seven (twice) and five runs dug Wisconsin holes they could not get themselves out of.
The weekend started out harmlessly enough, as UW was able to come back from a 3-0 deficit to beat New Mexico (0-5) 5-3. Sophomore Lynn Anderson hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Badgers and junior pitcher Eden Brock the win.
Things began to go downhill as the competition grew fiercer, as Friday night brought a game against No. 4/5 Texas (4-1). The Longhorns simply overpowered Wisconsin, as Meagan Denny had 12 strikeouts and allowed only one Badger hit in a 7-0 win. UW freshman Leah Vanevenhoven pitched well in her debut until a five-run explosion by Texas in the sixth inning chased her from the game.
Saturday was a day Wisconsin would like to have back. The day opened with a matchup against No. 17/20 Fresno State (2-3). The Badgers stayed with the Bulldogs for two and a half innings, as sophomore Joey Daniels had a two-run single in the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. The tie evaporated nearly instantly, however, as Fresno State scored seven runs in the bottom half of the inning, making the rest of the 11-2 game a mere formality.
With a winless Nevada team the opponent Saturday night, it appeared UW could get back on track. Daniels hit the Badgers' first home run of the season in the fourth inning for a 2-0 lead. The big inning killed Wisconsin again, though, as the Wolfpack got seven runs in the fifth inning. They added two more to end the game 9-2.
Sunday did not provide the Badgers any relief, either, as host Arizona State (6-0) hit two home runs to shut out Wisconsin 5-0. Junior Athena Vasquez was one of the few highlights, getting two of the four hits for the Badgers.
UW will attempt to get back in the win column next weekend in the Oklahoma State/Easton Classic.
