Wisconsin softball is advancing in the winners’ bracket after a dramatic finish in its NCAA tournament opener.
The eighth-seeded Badgers bested Baylor in walk-off fashion, 2-1, following an extra-inning pitchers’ duel on Friday, May 15, in the first round of the Austin regional in the NCAA Tournament.
UW shortstop Hannah Conger delivered the game-winning double in the ninth inning – her first hit of the afternoon – to bring home Alivia Bark for the game-winning run. It was Wisconsin’s third-ever walk-off win in the NCAA Tournament.
UW ace Shelby Jacobson set up the Badgers for the late heroics with a stellar start. She threw a 141-pitch complete game, holding the Bears to only one run in nine innings. The Bears had six hits and six walks while stranding 10 runners on base.
Both teams were held scoreless for the first five innings before the Badgers scored unconventionally in the sixth inning. Baylor’s two throwing errors on a Kaylie Whidden bunt set up the Badgers with a runner on third base and only one out. That run scored on a well-executed squeeze bunt by Bark.
Baylor was then down to its final strike in the seventh inning before back-to-back doubles by Faith Piper and Amber Toven tied the game and forced extra innings. The Bears had an enviable opportunity in the eighth inning as well with a runner on second base and no outs, but a line-drive double play negated the threat.
UW had opportunities to build a bigger advantage earlier in the game, but it stranded the bases loaded in the third inning and runners on second and third base in the fifth inning. Baylor’s Peyton Tanner held the Badgers to two runs, five hits and six walks in her complete game.
Next up for Wisconsin softball in the NCAA Tournament
The Badgers will most likely face reigning national champion Texas in their next game, which will be on Saturday, May 16, at noon. The host Longhorns will take on Wagner in their first-round game tonight, with the winner facing UW and the loser facing Baylor. The loser of UW’s second game will then play in an elimination game on May 16 at approximately 5 p.m.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin softball walks off Baylor to advance in NCAA softball tournament
Reporting by John Steppe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
