The University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers softball team (30-16, 10-8 Big Ten) battled the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers April 19 at home, securing the first win in a three-game series.
The first two innings saw solid pitching from both sides. Both the Badgers and the Golden Gophers collected outs quickly. This led to a scoring drought until the bottom of the third inning. A bunt from freshman Kendra Lewis allowed sophomore Hilary Blomberg to steal third and make her way across home plate. This put the Badgers up 1-0 entering the top of the fourth inning.
The Gophers responded quickly, with two runners on second and third base being sent home by junior Breezy Burnett, putting them up 2-1 as the game entered the bottom of the fourth.
The Badgers entered the bottom of the fourth looking to make an impact on offense. With a string of successful hits, the Badgers had runners on second and third base. Looking to even the score up at two a piece, senior Molly Schlosser hit a single, sending freshman Emma King home.
With this momentum, the Badgers got another runner home before the inning ended, putting them up 3-2 going into the fifth inning.
The next two innings saw a scoring drought from both teams until the top of the sixth inning, where Minnesota put up an equalizing run to end the inning, making the score 3-3 entering the bottom of the sixth.
The Badgers responded with an offensive spree, starting with a home run from senior Ellie Hubbard. The Badgers would go on to add five more runs, including another home run, this time by redshirt senior Emmy Wells, putting them ahead six entering the final inning.
Despite a last-minute effort from the Gophers, narrowing the lead to just three, it was not enough to complete the comeback. The Badgers won the first game of the series 9-6.
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On day two, the Badgers put up another offensive fight, taking the game 6-4.
Starting the third game, both the Badgers and the Golden Gophers started slow offensively, until the top of the third inning, when the Gophers put together a string of runs. With back-to-back walks loading the bases, Burnett stepped up to bat and launched an opposite-field grand slam, putting the Gophers up 5-0 entering the bottom of the third inning.
The Badgers started the bottom of the third looking to put some runs on the board to close their deficit. With sophomore Alivia Bark up to bat, the Badgers were able to send one runner home, closing the Gophers lead to four.
The Badgers went on to put one other run up that inning, making the lead for the Gophers three heading into the top of the fourth inning.
Looking to respond, the Gophers quickly put up two runs thanks to a successful bunt single from senior Margaret Tobias.
With only one out, the Gophers collected more runs. Sophomore Sydney Schwartz singled home two runners with bases loaded, putting the Gophers ahead 7-2 entering the bottom of the fourth inning.
Despite efforts from the Badgers, including a home run from Alivia Bark, they were unable to complete the comeback. The Gophers went on to put up four more runs as the Badgers struggled at the pitchers mound, making the final score 10-4.
The Badgers look to rebound as they face Northwestern this Friday, April 25, in Evanston, Illinois.