Wisconsin Softball vs. Oregon

Wisconsin takes on host and #3 Oregon in a battle of Friday winners.

Tough matchup for Wisconsin taking on the highly ranked Oregon Ducks (48-6) in Eugene.  My father is from Eugene so a split in the family over this one.  Full disclosure, Oregon is my second favorite NCAA team because of that plus the four years I lived in Portland (#PTFC #RCTID).

Top 1st: Dreadful start for Wisconsin as Oregon drops a bunt towards Sara Novak at 3B and Novak  can’t get the out.   Was not a surprise to see a bunt there.  Duck leadoff then swipes 2B as Wisconsin SS Brooke Wyderski drops the throw from C Chole Miller.  The throw beat the runner in plenty of time.  But Wyderski doesn’t secure it.

Badger 2B Kelsey Jenkins makes hash of a two-hop grounder and the Ducks get runners on the corners.  Oregon easily steals 2B.  A pop out to Miller momentarily stops the bleeding before Wyderski makes amends with a strong throw from in the hole to get the second out.  But a run scores.  Wyderski can’t duplicate the effort on the next ground ball her way as the Oregon batter beats the throw to the bag.  2-0 Oregon.

Ducks threaten with a single through the right side.  A heads up play by 1B Stephanie Lombardo ends the threat.  Slow roller her way and she snags it before it rolls foul to tag the runner for the final out.  This really isn’t P Kaitlyn Menz’ fault at all.  Oregon didn’t make much solid contact but her defense let her down digging Wisconsin an early hole.

Bottom 1st: Following a leadoff strikeout, Miller pounds a single.  Wyderski taps back to the P but mishandled by the Duck hurler and Wisconsin in business with runners on first and second with just one out.  Novak lasers one towards 2B and it’s too hot to handle.  Bags full of Badgers.  Lombardo strike out for the second out, as she struggled with changing pitch speeds in that AB.  It’s up to Melanie Cross for Wisconsin.  Cross works the count full.  Runners will get a head start so a base knock will definitely tie the game.  Instead she fans at what looked like ball four off the outside corner.

Top 2nd: Oregon again small boy with the bunt and C Miller fields but throw hits the runner.  Oregon again gets the leadoff batter on.   Didn’t look like interference from Oregon but it makes sense that Wisconsin coach Yvette Healey is asking about it.  Umpires get it right, no interference.  Menz then falls behind 3-1 but battles back to get the strikeout looking on a generous call.  Looked a little high.  Jenkins to Lombardo for the second out and Lombardo unassisted for the final out again ends the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Badgers have some action in the pen.  Aggressive approach from RF Jordan Little and she singles through the left side. LF Gabby Scherle and CF Kelly Welsh both strikeout.  So far every Badger out has come via the K.  Little steals second and moves to third on a wild pitch.  Jenkins reaches on a walk so Badgers on the corner with two outs.  That offspeed pitch from Oregon has the Badgers off balance.  Miller down 1-2 in the count.  Then pure chaos.  Close pitch looks like strike three and inning over.  Instead ball two.  Jenkins caught in a rundown between 1B and 2B but Oregon throws it away and Little scores from 3B.  Miller jumps on a fastball an ddrives it into the seats in right-center.  Wisconsin takes the lead 3-2.  I would suggest staying away from Miller.  Just like yesterday, missing up in the zone over the plate means good things for Chloe Miller.  Wyderski grounds out to third.

Top 3rd: Lineout to Lombardo at first for the first out.  Ducks have a pair of pitchers up in its bullpen.  Menz recovers from hitting a batter to pull the string on Oregon and get a strikeout.  Soft liner to Wyderski at SS ends the frame.

Bottom 3rd: Novak to the lip of the warning track but no farther.  Too high.   Lombardo strikeouts, and didn’t look particularly confident doing so.  Cross flies out harmlessly to CF.

Next: TE to be heavily featured in passing game

Top 4th: Jenkins ranges to her left for the 4-3 putout.  A second HBP puts a Duck on with one out.  Lets see if Oregon is off an running again.  So far its paid dividends.  Fly ball to Welsh in center for out number two.  Sunday hop for Jenkins and another 4-3 to end the inning.

Bottom 4th: Long, strong throw records the 6-3 for Oregon.  Scherle Ks and Welsh battles to draw the walk.  Welsh steals 2B as the throw was well ahead of her but the Duck SS tardy on the tag.  Good head first slide away from the SS to sneak a hand in there.  Some close pitches going the Wisconsin way.  Welsh nearly called out on strikes.  Yet another huddle for Oregon at the circle.  More activity in the Oregon bullpen.  Sarcastic cheers for the umpire as a pitch cuts the plate in half is called a strike.  Oregon has not enjoyed the strike zone today in their own building.  Miller due up next so you’d rather not face her with two Badgers on base.  Oregon makes a pitching change in the middle of the AB.   A little unusual but Oregon must have a pitch count in mind for their ace prompting the switch.

New P will start at 2-2 with runner on 2B and two outs.  She throws two balls and runners on first and second for the Miller.  Not ideal for Oregon.  Ducks escape as Miller hits a hard grounder to 3B for the routine 5-3 putout.

More from Badger of Honor

• Wisconsin Football flips 3-star defensive tackle from Northwestern
• Former Wisconsin Football stars to be featured on the next Wheaties box
• Believe it or not, Wisconsin Football has never played these FBS teams
• Four-star running back Darrion Dupree commits to Wisconsin Football
• Wisconsin Football wide receiver enters the transfer portal

Top 5th: Foul out to Miller and tapped back to Menz for two quick outs.  Grounder to SS sends Oregon down in order again.

Bottom 5th: Chopper back through the box gets Wyderski a single.  Novak is your cleanup hitter and that is why.  Smokes it over the fence in left-center as Wisconsin extends the lead to 5-2.  Aggressive from the Badgers as the single and HR were on the first pitch.  Lombardo strikeout, Cross grounds out, and Little strikes out to finish the Badger 5th.  But two big runs for Wisconsin.

Top 6th: Oregon bunts for the leadoff single.  Its a wonder the Ducks aren’t doing this more.  Wisconsin hasn’t gotten it right once fielding bunts.  As expected, Oregon steals 2B.  Miller hesitated framing the pitch and had no chance on the throw.  Past ball moves the runner to 3B.  Wisconsin gladly concede the run to get an out here.  Oregon battling as Menz shows first signs of fatigue in this NCAA regional.  Ball tails away and Oregon has runners on the corner with no outs.  Team huddle on the mound for Wisconsin as the tying run comes to the plate for Oregon.  Ball drilled to right but Little well positioned to snag it.  Run scores to trim the Badger lead but Wisconsin will take that trade.  Flare to Jenkins at 2B and she collects for the second out.  She throws behind the runner but its low and away and skips past Lombardo.  Break for Oregon because that runner was dead in the water with a better throw and it would have ended the inning.  Late strike calls on a high pitch turns 3-0 into 2-1.    Welsh with a second web gem in as many days as she comes in at full stretch to dive and record the final out.  #SCTop10 again.

Bottom 6th:  ESPN shots of Wisconsin dugout shows Badgers fully enjoying “Shout” which is Oregon’s version of “Jump Around.”  Taylor Berry pinch hits for Scherle and Ks on four pitches.  Lets hope she was brought in for defense.  Scherle was 0-2 on the day with two strike outs.  Pop out to 3B and Jenkins strikes out.

Top 7th: Last three outs for Oregon unless they can score a couple.  Menz out there trying to go the distance.  Jenkins with some slick fielding to charge a slow chopper and get the out at first. Barely.  Slow chop to Menz and she slips quickly to first to get the out.  Ducks stay alive with single up the middle.  Menz at 112 pitches.  Ball laced just over Jenkins’ head at 2B and the throw goes to 3B for some reason.  That enables Oregon to motor down to 2B.  So tying runs in scoring position.

That’s a mistake by Little.  That throw has to go to 2B to hold the runner at first.  She had no chance on the throw to 3B with a fast base runner moving on contact with two outs.  The lead run doesn’t matter right now.  Keep the force alive at 2B and keep the runner out of scoring position.

Ball roped down the left field line and we’re honors even in Eugene.  Ball piped down the middle and it’s tied.  Now the winning run is at 2B with two outs.    Grounder to Jenkins ends the threat but Oregon draws level.

Bottom 7th: Liner by Miller snagged by the SS.  Wyderski rips a double into the gap in right-center.  Winning run in scoring position now.  Novak up for Wisconsin with the chance to be a walk-off hero.  She was swinging to end it there and missed.  That pitch was at her shins.  Soft ground ball back to the P moves the runner to 3B but now two outs.  A wild pitch/past ball could win it.  Lombardo up for the Badgers.  Wisconsin dugout not pleased with the strike zone now.  Probably because Oregon just threw two identical pitches and one was a strike and next one was a ball.  I guess that’s why you complain.  Long fly ball ends the inning.  Free softball in Eugene.

Top 8th: Menz again out there for the Badgers.  Slow tap back to Menz but she boots it and Oregon gets the leadoff on.  I am surprised Bucky isn’t given Oregon a different P to look out.  Oregon lays down another great point and props to Miller for racing out from behind the dish to get the out at first.  Runner in scoring position for Oregon with one down.  Scherle catches the shot to LF as Menz reaches 130 pitches.  Speedy hitter up for Oregon.   Ducks hit a grounder up the middle and throw home a little off line.  Miller called for obstruction or something?  I mean no question on replay the tag was there before the Duck touched the plate.  That should have been inning over still knotted at five.  Bunt to first and Oregon beats it out, but she took a bad turn and had to go for 2B.  Meanwhile, runner on second tries to get home but thrown out at the plate.  This time no weird call and inning over.  Miller looked a little dazed after the collision at home.  I hope somebody checked on her.

Bottom 8th:  Cross leads off for Wisconsin.  She goes the opposite way and singles to get a runner on.  Pinch runner in for the Badgers.  Little strikes out.  Scherle grounds to 3B and Oregon is able to cut down the lead runner.  Wisconsin down to its final out.    Kelly Welsh the winning run at the plate for Wisconsin.  She takes a strike right down the middle and UW down to its last strike.  Welsh swings through it and Oregon escapes. FINAL Oregon 6  Wisconsin 5

SUMMARY

A brutal loss for Badger softball.  Wisconsin looked to be in firm command up 5-3 in the 7th inning with Oregon down to its last out and bases empty.  Instead some late magic from the Ducks in Eugene and a blown call at home plate in extra innings leave Wisconsin with the L.  All that was missing here was a length-of-the-floor buzzer beater.

The early defensive miscues helped dig Wisconsin a 2-run hole.  Menz pitched okay on the day, only three of the Oregon runs were earned.  But she was clearly laboring and the Ducks had been through the order enough times that a different look from a new P would have been warranted.

The bottom of the Badger order was 1-12 with a run scored.  If Wisconsin advanced to the Super Regional they’ll almost certainly need more production from those hitters.

Wisconsin will play the winner of Missouri – UIC later this evening to stay alive in the NCAA Regional.