Wisconsin collected a season-high 11 hits in an 8-3 victory over Penn State, but cold bats and costly defensive miscues cost the Badgers in the nightcap as Wisconsin lost 2-0 Sunday at the Goodman Diamond.
The only run-producing hit came in the top half of the sixth inning off the bat of Penn State freshman third baseman Desi Giordano, which scored two runs and secured the victory for the Nittany Lions.
The Badgers entered the sixth inning in a scoreless tie with the Nittany Lions and in the midst of a pitchers' duel between Wisconsin starter Leah Vanevenhoven and Penn State starter Jackie Hill.
With one out in the inning junior outfielder Danielle Kinley drew a walk, and junior outfielder Sam Hovanec hit a ground ball back to the pitcher. The ball was thrown to second for a fielder's choice, but it was a ball UW head coach Chandelle Schulte felt could have been turned into a double play.
Had we been more aggressive on that double-play ball, we would have turned it,"" Schulte said.
The play left the door open for Penn State. The next batter was junior shortstop Kayce Zielinski. Zielinski hit what seemed to be a routine ground ball to second base. The grounder was fielded cleanly by freshman second baseman Livi Abney, who was halfway off the field before the first base umpire called the play safe.
The decision at first base was a close one and probably could have gone either way, but Schulte knew once again had her team been more aggressive they could have ended the inning sooner.
""Our second baseman sat back on that ball,"" Schulte said. ""You don't sit back on that ball, you attack that ball.""
The error by Abney put base runners on first and second with two out for Giordano. UW freshman Jen Krueger had to move back on a flyball from Giordano but the ball glanced off her glove, allowing two runs to score.
Krueger was not charged with an error on the triple by Giordano, but it was a play that could have been made.
""[The game] should have been 0-0 going into the seventh inning,"" Schulte said.
It was a tough loss for Vanevenhoven (4-18) to take. The junior did not allow an earned run and surrendered four hits with two walks over seven innings. And for the second time in Vanevenhoven's last three starts, the lefty was not provided with a single run by hear teammates.
""[Not getting any run support] doesn't help,"" Vanevenhoven said. ""But that just makes me stronger as a pitcher.""
The Badgers managed three base runners the entire game and just one after the first inning.
""In the second game we got a lot more junk [than we did in the first game] and we weren't disciplined and we failed to adjust,"" junior right fielder said Valyncia Raphael, who was 0-2 with a walk in the second game.
Hill allowed two hits and one walk in the shutout and improved to 13-6 on the season.
""We know we're playing a lot better,"" Raphael said. We're disappointed in the split. We wanted to take two. But as a team we're moving in the right direction right now.""
Schulte also expressed discontent in losing the nightcap, and noted that this was the third Big Ten contest she felt her team had a strong chance to win but was unable to pull it out.
The first game presented a very different theme for both teams. Neither team was able to get any continuity from its starting pitcher as the Badgers and Nittany Lions combined for 18 hits and 11 runs.
Wisconsin scored six of their eight runs in the sixth inning, and all with two outs.
Wisconsin was trailing 3-0 when Raphael scorched a 3-0 pitch over Kinley's head to narrow the margin to one.
""We gave [Raphael] the green light,"" Schulte said. ""I was like, 'Hey, hit it. Make something happen.'""
A stolen base followed by a throwing error allowed Raphael to score and tie the game.
Wisconsin did not stop there though, scoring three more runs in the inning.
Vanevenhoven also started the first game for Wisconsin, but struggled badly with control and was relieved after one plus innings.
Vanevenhoven was pulled last weekend because of an injury, but Schulte clarified that this instance was completely performance related.
""You can't go down two runs without them hitting,"" Schulte said.
Olivarez entered the game in relief and kept Wisconsin in the game by pitching six innings and allowing one unearned run.
Wisconsin lost to Michigan 7-2 and 12-4 on Friday night.
