50 // VARSITY March 13, 2014
INSIDE
SOFTBALL
Badgers impress with
tough battles in California
Wisconsin goes 3-2 at Judi Garman Classic
BY CHRISTIAN BLATNER @BADGERSOFTBALL
W
isconsin knew it
would have its hands
full, as it travelled
to Fullerton, Calif., to play in
the Judi Garman Classic last
weekend. But the team was
prepared to embrace the chal-
lenge head-on.
The Badgers drew a tourna-
ment schedule in which they
would face three top-10 teams
in a two-day stretch ― a peri-
od of just under 20 hours.
First up: No. 7 Arizona. The
Wildcats entered the weekend
with a record of 20-1. It had
compiled wins over three top-
25 opponents, including two
shutouts against then-No. 4
Alabama, and had won eight of
its previous nine contests by
run rule.
UW was not fazed by the
Wildcats' prowess, though, de-
feating them in a 7-5 offensive shootout.
Despite trailing by three in the hit cate-
gory, the Badgers found a way to get run-
ners on, over and across the plate.
There wasn't much time for UW to cel-
ebrate, as it took the field just 30 minutes
later to face No. 6 Washington.
The Huskies entered the game with a
mere one loss more than Arizona at 17-
2, following a 7-1 win over No. 5 Michi-
gan on Thursday.
The Badgers battled hard, even taking
the lead in the top of the fourth, but were
unable to hang on, dropping the tight
contest, 4-2.
Wisconsin was humbled by No. 10 ASU
in its first game on Saturday, as it run-
ruled the Badgers, 9-1, in five innings.
The Badgers weren't discouraged by
the early afternoon defeat and respond-
ed with a dominant 5-0 shutout win
against Long Beach State.
At the time the win may have appeared
no more special than any other UW had
gathered in 2014, but the 49ers finished
the tournament with four wins and just
one loss ― meaning Wisconsin was the
only team that had The Beach's number
at the Judi Garman Classic.
After two days in California the Bad-
gers were a .500 team with a 9-9 season
record and 2-2 tournament record. UW
wouldn't leave The Golden State below
even, though.
The Badgers beat host Cal State Ful-
lerton, 4-1, on Sunday to close out a
weekend that head coach Yvette Healy
deemed a success.
SCHEDULE (10-9)
COMING UP
Mar. 15 Kent State 11:30 a.m.
Mar. 15 Iowa State 4:30 p.m.
Mar. 16 Iowa State 10:30 p.m.
