With a five-run lead and an ace in the hole, MSU softball head coach Jacquie Joseph thought a doubleheader sweep of Wisconsin was a safe bet.
After winning the first game, 7-5, the Spartans (21-16 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth of the second game. Freshman pitcher Christy McGrew struggled in the inning, so Joseph brought in senior pitcher Jessica Beech, who owns school records for both strikeouts and shutouts in a single season.
"I gave my ace the ball with a five-run lead," Joseph said. "That should've been enough. She just got shelled; our No. 1 pitcher."
The Badgers (23-19, 3-5) racked up eight earned runs against Beech in two and one-thirds innings of work. The back-breaker came in the bottom of the sixth when Wisconsin catcher Boo Gillette hit a grand slam that put her team up for good. The Badgers' 11-8 win in the second game earned them a split on the day.
Gillette, who had six RBI in the game, said she was expecting an off-speed pitch when she hit her grand slam.
"I missed on her change-up on the first time and she threw it high and inside," Gillette said. "I like that pitch."
After the second game, Beech, whose record fell to 17-12, took the blame for the loss.
"I didn't perform very well today," she said.
Joseph said she was pleased with McGrew's effort but, overall, the team's pitching must improve.
"I really feel like we didn't pitch to our capabilities," she said. "Now, you have to give Wisconsin credit ? we had 15 hits, that's enough to win a game if we pitch, we didn't pitch."
The loss capped a four-game home weekend series for the Spartans, in which they went 2-2. Before playing the Badgers on Sunday, the Spartans split with Minnesota, losing, 2-1, on Friday and winning, 5-2, on Saturday.
The Spartans won the first game in Sunday's doubleheader against the Badgers using the two-pitcher combination of McGrew and Beech.
McGrew started for the Spartans, but when she found trouble - as she did in the third and fifth innings - Beech was called on to tidy up her mess.
After the Badgers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, the Spartans responded in a big way, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the inning. The big hit of the inning belonged to freshman designated player Dayna Feenstra. With the bases loaded, Feenstra hit a double to right-center that cleared the bases.
Leading, 7-4, with Beech on the mound in the top of the seventh, the Spartans seemed to be in good shape, but the Badgers didn't go down easily. Wisconsin shortstop Kris Zacher hit a solo home run, bringing the Badgers within two.
Gillette followed the home run with a single, then reached second on an error. With Gillette on second with one out, the Badgers had the tying run at the plate twice, but Beech struck both batters out, giving MSU the win.
Beech was the winning pitcher, striking out seven Badgers in three and one-third innings.
Though both teams left Old College Field with a win Sunday, the Badgers were much more upbeat after the doubleheader.
"Leaving on a win is definitely better," Gillette said.
The Spartans' next test comes in a doubleheader against Oakland at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Old College Field. Joseph said McGrew will pitch the first game against Oakland.
Joseph also said she isn't focused on wins and losses.
"I care about competing and I care about playing good," she said. "There's no shame in getting beat. The problem is, I want to make sure we got beat and we didn't lose, and there's a difference."
