Though it scored 17 runs Sunday, Wisconsin did not come away with a win in its doubleheader vs. Ohio State at Goodman Diamond.
The first game of the day ended in a narrow 10-8 loss after the Buckeyes managed to respond to Wisconsin’s six-run, fifth-inning outburst.
Sophomore utility player Kelsey Jenkins and freshman catcher Melanie Cross both hit home runs, pacing a Wisconsin team that fell just short of victory.
The day’s second match ended bizarrely in a 9-9 extra-inning tie, as both teams agreed beforehand to be done playing at 5:15 so Ohio State would be able to catch its plane home. The decision to end this game early visibly angered fans. With Sunday’s results and the 6-5 win Friday, the Badgers proved they are capable of hanging with ranked teams like No. 24 Ohio State.
“We went toe to toe with this team, and I think a lot of people weren’t really sure that we’d be able to do that this season,” junior pitcher Kirsten Stevens said. “We’re here to show people that we’re here to play good softball.”
The Badgers certainly did that Sunday, matching one of the country’s better teams stride for stride. Though they faced large deficits in both games, they managed to claw back with robust offensive play.
Senior utility player Macy Oswald, Jenkins and Cross all had multiple hits in both games, with Cross homering twice.
Jenkins, who homered in the first game of the day, credited her strong play to her coaches’ research of opposing pitchers.
“Our coaches do a really great job of scouting the pitchers that we will be facing,” Jenkins said. “We watch a bunch of film on them, and scout their tendencies, so I think that’s a big boost of confidence going into the box.”
While Jenkins and her teammates hit well, the Badgers also played tidy defense Sunday. In over 15 innings of action, Wisconsin did not commit a single error. More eye-catching than the Badgers’ steady defensive play was the diving catch freshman centerfielder Kelly Welsh made late in the seventh inning of the second game. It was an amazing catch at a pivotal time that prevented the Buckeyes from scoring.
The Badgers’ solid play was not taken for granted by coach Yvette Healy, who was satisfied and upbeat after the day’s games. Healy praised “gritty” senior pitcher Taylor-Paige Stewart, who shutout the Buckeyes in the four innings following her five-run, fourth-inning hiccup.
While a win on Sunday would’ve been ideal, Healy kept a good perspective after the game, lauding a successful weekend for her team.
“I’m super happy,” the sixth-year coach proclaimed. “If you play a top-25 team and split with them and get a tie, that’s a win for us, because the better team should win more games. For us to go one win, one loss, and one tie, I think the advantage goes to us.”
The Badgers’ Tuesday doubleheader with North Dakota State has been postponed due to weather, so their next games is a matchup with Purdue at 4 p.m. Friday at Goodman Diamond. Wisconsin and the Boilermakers will continue the series Saturday and Sunday, with both games starting at 1 p.m.
