The Wisconsin softball team broke an eight-game Big Ten losing streak in thrilling fashion against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Wednesday. Senior pitcher Leah Vanevenhoven headlined the victory with an outstanding pitching performance, capped off by a game-winning walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning by infielder freshman Karla Powell.
Wisconsin (2-10 Big Ten, 13-33 overall) split a doubleheader with Minnesota, losing the first game 4-0 but coming back to win the second game 2-1.
The Badgers entered Wednesday on the heels of a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State in extra innings last weekend. The Gophers (6-8, 23-26) came into Madison having split a pair of 1-0 games with Penn State over the weekend.
Wednesday's doubleheader rapidly evolved into a spirited pitching duel between Vanevenhoven and Minnesota senior hurler Briana Hassett. Vanevenhoven and Hassett pitched complete games in both games of the doubleheader, and both recorded double-digit strikeout totals. Vanevenhoven struck out 20 batters and Hassett struck out 16.
In game one, Vanevenhoven recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts. But Wisconsin's offense could not score on Hassett to support Vanevenhoven's performance in the circle. Hassett pitched a one-hit complete game with nine strikeouts. The Gophers plated two runs in both the third and fifth innings, en route to the 4-0 victory. Wisconsin junior shortstop Katie Soderberg supplied the only Badger hit.
With Wisconsin junior hurler Letty Olivarez recovering from illness, Vanevenhoven got the ball again in game two and picked up where she left off in game one. Vanevenhoven shut down Gopher sophomore first baseman Malisa Barnes, Minnesota's leading hitter, and gave up only three hits in the game. Hassett countered with seven strikeouts of her own, and the pair battled back and forth, mowing through the other team's lineup inning after inning.
Through six and a half innings, Minnesota and Wisconsin were square at 1-1. In the bottom of the seventh, the Badgers played small ball, with sophomore outfielder Jennifer Krueger and senior third baseman Theresa Boruta each recording infield singles. Sophomore second baseman Livi Abney advanced the runners with a fielder's choice.
Powell then hit a ball past a diving Barnes at first base. Minnesota freshman second baseman Sammie Howard fielded the ball and raced Powell to the bag, but Powell beat her out on a head-first slide. Krueger scored the winning run from third, giving the Badgers a 2-1 victory.
""I knew she had it,"" Vanevenhoven said of her teammate Powell.
Vanevenhoven's performance on Wednesday showed her mental toughness in overcoming recent struggles to lead her team to victory. The hurler gave up a four-run Badger lead in the seventh inning in game two against Ohio State last weekend, allowing the Buckeyes to tie the game and win in extra innings. But on Wednesday, Vanevenhoven improved as each game went on, facing no more than four batters in each of the last five innings of Wisconsin's victory in game two.
