MADISON, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay softball team concluded the non-conference portion of its schedule against in-state foe Wisconsin (26-19-1, 9-7-1 Big Ten) on Tuesday, falling twice to the Badgers in an afternoon doubleheader at Goodman Diamond.
Green Bay (16-28, 7-7 HL) fell to UW 8-0 in Game No. 1 (F/6), before dropping the second by an identical margin, 8-0 (F/5). The Phoenix had no answer for the Badgers' pitching staff, which limited Green Bay to just three hits total on the day.
The Phoenix continue Horizon League play this weekend as it travels to Kentucky to take on the NKU Norse on Friday and Saturday (DH). Both on Saturday's games will be broadcast live on ESPN3, beginning with Game No. 1 at 11:00 a.m. (CT).
Wisconsin 8, Green Bay 0 (Game 1, F/6)
Despite scattering 11 hits in 5.1 innings off Phoenix starter Bailey Smaney, the story for the Badgers in Game 1 was the pitching of senior Taylor-Paige Stewart.
The native of Calabasas, Calif., threw five innings of one-hit ball and struck out a season-high-tying nine Green Bay batters en route to her 14th win of the season.
Wisconsin received a pair of RBI singles in the first two innings, before scoring six runs in the final two frames, walking-off on a RBI fielder's choice by right fielder Chloe Miller.
Junior center fielder Katelyn Huemmer tallied the lone hit for Green Bay.
Wisconsin 8, Green Bay 0 (Game 2, F/5)
Green Bay once again faced the Badgers' ace in Game No. 2, as Stewart went 3.0 innings, allowing one hit and striking out five, before being relieved by sophomore Mariah Watts (2.0 IP, 0 ER).
The aforementioned Miller provided an early spark for Wisconsin, hitting a 3-run home run in the first inning off Phoenix starter Katie Rossmann, before the Badgers' offense tacked on one more in the second and four in the third.
A bright spot for Green Bay has been the bat of Brennan Engel, as the freshman notched both Phoenix hits in the second game, finishing 2-for-2. The Beaver Dam native has been Green Bay's hottest hitter over the past eight games, in which she has raised her average a whopping 51 points from .286 to a team-high .337.
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