BTN.com staff, April 7, 2012
Iowa and Northwestern split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, with the Hawkeyes taking the first game, 5-2, and the Wildcats claiming the second game, 7-6. Northwestern scored four run in the fourth to rally from a 2-0 deficit in Game 2 to avoid the doubleheader sweep. In Game 1, Iowa pushed five runs across the plate in the second inning to bury Northwestern. The Wildcats did score single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but it wasn't enough. Watch highlights now and see Saturday's other Big Ten scores in this post.
See Saturday's other Big Ten scores, courtesy of BigTen.org:
Game 1: The Indiana Hoosiers (18-17, 3-4 Big Ten) handed the Purdue Boilermakers (23-11, 6-1 Big Ten) their first conference loss of the season, 3-2, on Brianna Meyer's walk-off double in the bottom of the 7th in the first game of a doubleheader at the IU Softball Field on Saturday. The win gives the Hoosiers their third straight victory over Purdue, the longest since winning four in a row between 1996-1997. This is the fourth walk-off victory for the Hoosiers on the season. RECAP
Game 2: Indiana junior third baseman Amanda Wagner's second career two home run game helped lead the Indiana Hoosiers (19-17, 4-4 Big Ten) to a 9-5 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Purdue Boilermakers at the IU Softball Field. It is the fourth straight victory over the Purdue (23-12, 6-2 Big Ten), the longest winning streak against Purdue since the 1996 and 1997 seasons. RECAPMichigan 11, Ohio State 4 (Game 2); Michigan 6, Ohio State 5 (Game 3)
The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan softball team totaled a season-high 16 hits in an 11-3 win over Ohio State in the day's first game before taking a 6-4 decision in the second contest of a doubleheader on Saturday at Buckeye Field. The two wins sealed Michigan's weekend sweep of OSU. In the first game, freshman RHP Sara Driesenga settled down after giving up three runs in the first inning to get the win, pitching 7.0 innings and giving up four runs on five hits. Freshman LHP Haylie Wagner picked up the win in the day's second contest, pitching all 7.0 innings and giving up five runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Knapp went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Evans was 2-for-3 with an RBI as Michigan totaled six hits in the contest. RECAPNebraska 4, Illinois 1 (Game 3)
Behind another impresive performance from Ashley Hagemann, the Nebraska softball team completed a three-game sweep of Illinois with a 4-1 victory on Saturday at Bowlin Stadium. With the win, Nebraska improved to 24-14 on the season, moving 10 games above .500 for the first time this season. The Huskers also improved to 7-2 in Big Ten Conference play by posting their second sweep through the first three conference series. The win was Nebraska's 10th home win of the season, as the Huskers are 10-0 at Bowlin Stadium. The start is the second-best in the 11-year history of the stadium. NU has also won 13 consecutive home games dating back to last season, tying the longest winning streak in Bowlin Stadium history. RECAP
Penn State 4, MIchigan State 3 (Game 1); Penn State 11, Michigan State 5 (Game 2)
The Penn State softball team slugged its way past Michigan State in a doubleheader sweep at Beard Field on Saturday afternoon. The Nittany Lions tallied 22 hits including three home runs to down the Spartans. Penn State won the opener 4-3 before winning the nightcap 11-5. Kasie Hatfield led the charge with five base hits including a perfect 4-for-4 game two, while junior Lauren Yao celebrated her birthday with a massive three-run bomb that capped a three-hit nightcap. Hatfield's four-hit output in the second game is a new career-high and the first four-hit showing since Ashley Griffith pulled off the feat vs. Maryland. Alyssa Sovereign hit a two-run homer and Cassidy Bell added a three-run shot as PSU hit .373, slugged .593 and got on base at .431 in the two games. "I thought we hit the ball well and that we showed a lot of fight and character," Head coach Robin Petrini said." We came from behind in both games and I thought in all phases of game that we did a pretty nice job today." RECAP
Wisconsin 5, Minnesota 1 (Game 2); Wisconsin 11, Minnesota 10 (Game 3)
With the biggest comeback in school history, Wisconsin earned the sweep against Minnesota on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Diamond, marking a six-game winning streak. Wisconsin won the day's first game, 5-1, before rallying back to win, 11-10, in the second game of the doubleheader. The eight-run rally gave the Badgers their 20th win of the season (20-12 overall, 6-3 Big Ten), while Minnesota suffered its 13th loss, falling to 21-13 (3-6). RECAP