The Wisconsin softball team (5-8-0) won three of five games in the New Mexico Invitational tournament in Albuquerque this weekend. In an exciting tournament, the Badgers recorded three straight victories bookended by losses—with all five games decided by one run.
Wisconsin carried a two-game winning streak into Albuquerque after winning their last two games of the Bama Bash tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The winning streak ended when the Badgers lost the first game of the New Mexico Invitational to Texas Tech. But Big Red rebounded, reeling off three straight wins before losing the final game of the tournament to Drake. The three-game winning streak was the first of its kind for the Badgers since Feb. 16-17, 2008, when Wisconsin strung together three wins in a tournament in Las Vegas.
The Badgers began tournament play Friday against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech (3-10-0). After five innings of play, Texas Tech led 3-1. The Badgers' offense came up big in the sixth inning, plating three runs and taking the lead 4-3. But Tech managed to tie the game in the seventh inning, and then won the game in extra innings by capitalizing off a tie-breaker rule, which automatically puts a runner at second base to start off the inning. Tech scored the run easily, and Wisconsin could not respond in the bottom half of the inning. The Red Raiders prevailed, 5-4.
With another game later that afternoon, Wisconsin could not fret over the one-run loss. The Badgers looked to rebound against the New Mexico Lobos (5-7-0). The Badgers exploded offensively against the Lobos' pitchers, scoring four runs off of 14 hits. Sophomores Livi Abney and Jennifer Krueger led the charge, producing three hits apiece. Despite a late rally by New Mexico, Wisconsin held on to win, 4-3.
Wisconsin's Saturday schedule included a game against the Drake Bulldogs (7-3-0) and a rematch with Texas Tech. Drake entered the game on a three-game winning streak, including victories against the Red Raiders and Lobos.
The Badgers and Bulldogs engaged in a thrilling game in which Drake led until the final play of the game. Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bulldogs led 3-1. But one by one, the Badgers broke down Drake's pitching and manufactured three runs, with senior Nichole Whaley getting the game-winning hit. Wisconsin won, 4-3.
Wisconsin looked to carry its offensive momentum into its night game with the Red Raiders. However, the contest became a pitching duel of sorts, with junior Letty Olivarez giving an excellent performance both at the plate and in the circle. Olivarez homered in the third inning to drive in Wisconsin's only run, and then went to work pitching, allowing only four Red Raider hits. Big Red won a nail-biter, 2-1.
The Badgers looked to continue their streak Sunday as they closed out tournament play in a rematch with Drake. Despite a solo home run by senior Alexis Garcia, the Badgers could not hold off the Bulldogs, and Drake prevailed, 2-1.
Wisconsin's pitching staff produced solid performances during the New Mexico Invitational, but the real storyline of the tournament for the Badgers was the emergence of their offense. Seniors Raphael Valyncia and Theresa Boruta—along with Abney, Garcia, Whaley and Krueger—provided clutch hits during the tournament, allowing Olivarez and senior Leah Vanevenhoven to focus on pitching. The Badgers look to bring a more all-around attack into their next tournament in California.
Wisconsin will now prepare for the Mayfair Tournament in Long Beach, Calif., next weekend, Feb. 27 to March 1. Wisconsin will once again face a slate of universities from the West Coast, including rematches with Long Beach State and Fresno State.
—uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
