By: Ryan Hartwig (@RyanHartwig)
GreenBayPhoenix.com
MADISON,
Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Green
Bay had the tying run at the plate in the final inning of the opener and took
the lead early in game two, but the visiting Phoenix was unable to pick up a
win at in-state rival Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon in a softball doubleheader
at Goodman Diamond.
Green Bay (21-25 overall, 10-11 Horizon League) put up
a strong fight against one of the Big Ten's top teams, but ultimately fell 4-0
and 5-2 to the host Badgers (33-15, 12-6 Big Ten) in a pair of games televised
by the Big Ten Network.
GAME 1 -
WISCONSIN 4, GREEN BAY 0
Freshman outfielder Tia Collins (Orfordville, Wis.) drew a walk that loaded the bases
for the Phoenix with just one out in the top of the seventh inning, but
Wisconsin's Cassandra Darrah recorded her seventh strikeout followed by a fly
out to get out of the jam and secure the 4-0 win.
The Badgers scored three of their four runs in the
fifth inning when sophomore Stephanie Peace hit a bases-clearing double to
break the scoreless tie. The home team added an insurance run in the bottom of
the sixth when sophomore Michelle Mueller homered to center field off of Allison Goecks (Beloit, Wis.).
Green Bay was led offensively by senior Ashleigh Racer (Waterford, Wis.), who
registered a pair of hits, including a key single to left in the seventh. Goecks
took the loss (9-11), striking out five while allowing nine Wisconsin hits.
GAME 2 -
WISCONSIN 5, GREEN BAY 2
Game two saw the Phoenix off to a fast start, jumping
out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Paige Newtols (Green Bay, Wis.) cracked an RBI double to right center, driving in
Jessica Hrncar (Bristol, Wis.) - who
singled in the previous at-bat - for the game's first run. Newtols advanced to
third on a wild pitch and was then driven in by Stacey Butts (Greenfield, Wis.) on a fielders' choice.
The Badgers responded with an unearned run in the
second, and then exploded for four runs off of three hits and two errors in the
third to increase the lead to 5-2.
The Phoenix threatened to rally in the sixth inning
with back-to-back two-out singles by Butts and Miranda Spangberg (Wausau, Wis.), but Wisconsin was able to strand
the pair and hold on for its second win of the day.
Green Bay wraps up its regular season with five
straight home games over the next four days, beginning with a doubleheader
against North Dakota on Thursday. Games are slated for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Ben
Garot Field.
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