TEMPE, Ariz. – There’s nothing quite like a walk-off home run to kick off opening day.
In the Wisconsin softball team’s first game of the season, sophomore Kelsey Jenkins clinched an opening upset for the Badgers (1-1) with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to upset No. 21 California, 4-2. The dramatic win helped UW split its season-opening day of action at the Kajikawa Classic, as the Badgers faced BYU later in the day, but fell in a 5-4 final at the Tempe Sports Complex in Tempe, Arizona, on Friday.
In the day’s first game, both Wisconsin and California were scoreless in the first three innings until California hit back-to-back singles with two runners on base and only one out. Ashley Van Zeeland was able to knock off the batter at first for a second out before the Bears’ Krysten McCue hit a triple on the left side and gave California a 2-0 lead. Van Zeeland was able to connect with Stephanie Lombardo to finish the inning, where the Bears notched two runs and three hits leaving one on base for the Bears.
Wisconsin turned up the heat in the bottom of the sixth, when Chloe Miller stepped up to the plate to hit directly in the middle, which allowed Jenkins to come home. Going into the last inning, the Badgers trailed 2-1.
At the top of the seventh, freshman Melanie Cross caught a pop up for the first out before Taylor-Paige Stewart came in and knocked out the next two batters, leaving Wisconsin the chance to make their move.
Taylor Berry started off the seventh with a single for the Badgers. Cross then hit her first career home run to tie the game up at 2-2. Lombardo then followed with a single of her own before Kelsey Jenkins clinched the game with a walk-off home run to complete the Badgers upset, 4-2, over California.
UW had seven hits on the Bears and four runs batted in. Van Zeeland, who logged two hits, and Jenkins, who had two RBI, led the Badgers.
Kirsten Stevens pitched six innings allowing only eight hits, two runs and two errors, while Stewart finished the last inning allowing no hits.
Wisconsin (1-1) went straight back into action against BYU (2-1).
The game was scoreless until the Badgers turned things around in the top of the third. Lombardo hit a single to the left side to bring Heim home for the Badgers, which gave UW a 1-0 lead. Van Zeeland then got up to base where she a hit a double allowing Brianna Flugaur – who pinch ran for Lombardo – to score and secure a 2-0 lead for UW.
In the top of the fourth, with two outs, Cross went yard for the second time after two Cougars collided going for the ball, giving her the opportunity to increase Wisconsin’s score 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, BYU was able to take advantage and bring two runners into home, bringing the score to 3-2 in UW’s favor. Then in the sixth, after a walk and a double, the Cougars were able to tie the score 3-3.
Neither the Badgers nor the Cougars could come out ahead in the seventh inning, sending the game into extra innings. In the eighth, Jenkins was the runner on second base (international tiebreaker rule), but was brought home off of back-to-back singles by Van Zeeland and Miller.
Wisconsin’s lead was shortened when BYU tied the game back up, 4-4, in the bottom of the eighth and then took the win, 5-4, after a bunt allowed the player to take the winning run.
The Badgers continue the Kajikawa Classic on Saturday taking on the University of Nevada at 12:30 p.m. (CT) and Portland State at 5:30 p.m (CT).
