Northern Iowa got a clutch home run from Brittney Balduf in the final inning to beat Wisconsin 3-0 on a brisk evening Wednesday at the Goodman Softball Complex.
It was a heartbreaking loss for junior pitcher Leah Vanevenhoven and the Badgers.
Vanevenhoven entered the seventh inning with a no-hitter and the game locked in a scoreless tie.
With base runners at a premium all game, sophomore first baseman Jen Larsen tried to bunt her way to first base. Larsen made contact and the ball dribbled straight ahead. Vanevenhoven pounced off the mound, fielded the ball, then had to turn around quickly and snap the ball over to first base. The throw beat the runner but could not be handled by freshman second baseman Livi Abney who was covering first base. Abney was charged with the error, and it proved to be a pivotal one.
Sophomore right fielder Rachel Gerking followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Larsen to second. Then a walk to freshman second baseman Michelle Phillips and a groundout by senior pinch-hitter Heather Tarter put runners on second and third with two out.
Vanevenhoven got ahead of Balduf with a strike, but the second pitch was launched over the left field wall for a three run home run. The blast was the first and only hit all game by the Panthers.
It was a curve, and she got it before it curved,"" Vanevenhoven said. ""It was a pitch they've been missing all day.""
""That hitter never should have been there,"" assistant coach Julie Wright said. ""[The game was] disappointing. We played well until the breakdown with the error.""
Before the seventh inning Wisconsin had by far the best chance of either team to put runs on the board. A lead off single by senior catcher Joey Daniels, a bunt single by junior third baseman Theresa Boruta and a walk to junior left fielder Valyncia Raphael loaded the bases with no one out. But the Badgers came out with nothing thanks to bad luck and poor execution.
First baseman Alexis Garcia was next to bat, and the junior hit a screamer up the middle that was snagged by sophomore pitcher Sarah Bakey who was in relief of senior Ashley Lepley.
Then with one out designated hitter Letty Olivarez struck out swinging.
""I expected a really good at bat from [Olivarez], she's been having great at bats all game,"" Wright said.
But the sophomore could not come through, and a groundout by senior shortstop Lynn Anderson ended the promising threat for Wisconsin.
""You get all that momentum and then you come away with nothing,"" Wright said. ""That's tough sometimes.""
Vanevenhoven took the loss to fall to 4-15. The lefty pitched seven innings, allowed one hit, three walks, no earned runs and set a career high with 11 strike outs.
""I don't think she'll look at that today and be pleased,"" Wright said. ""She's a team kid.""
Bakey earned with win in relief, but the Panthers got a great start out of Lepley. Lepley threw five innings and allowed two hits, one walk, and at one point retired 14 consecutive batters.
