COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Wisconsin softball team balanced offensive firepower with a strong defensive front, securing the Big Ten series sweep over Maryland with a 5-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at the Maryland Softball Stadium.
 
The Badgers (32-14 overall, 11-11 Big Ten) came out fired up from the get-go, putting in four runs off of four hits on the Terrapins (11-39-1, 4-19) in the first inning alone. Senior Sara Novak is finishing off her senior campaign with a bang after she fired the first shot in that scored senior Chloe Miller and moved junior Brooke Wyderski to third, who were both on base from walks.
 
Wyderski and Novak made a gutsy move that paid off as both runners simultaneously stole bases, leading Wyderski to score and Novak to advance to second.
 
Wisconsin's attack continued with two more RBI singles from the lower half of the lineup. Sophomore Melanie Cross singled to center field to score Novak while sophomore Gabby Scherle's hard hit to the shortstop scored Jordan Little, who drew a walk earlier in the inning.
 
The Badgers made quick work of the Terrapins in the bottoms of the second and third innings, retiring them in order.
 
Wisconsin posted another run in the top of the third inning when Kelsey Jenkins ripped an RBI single to left center and advanced on the throw, scoring Welsh on the play to clinch a 5-0 advantage.
 
Thanks to several key defensive plays, the Badgers were able to preserve the shutout victory.
 
UW got out of a dangerous situation in the bottom of the first inning by turning an incredible double play with the bases loaded. Maryland's Kristina Dillard hit a shot straight to freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Menz who sent the ball back to Miller in the catcher's spot who then rocketed the ball to Stephanie Lombardo at first for the final out of the inning.
 
Trying to get a runner on the bases in the bottom of the fifth, Maryland sent a would-be single through the right side but Jenkins snagged the grounder and while falling made a back-handed throw to Lombardo at first base for the out.
 
Notes to Know:
-The Badgers outhit the Terrapins, 8-4, marking the 24th time UW has outhit an opponent this season.
-UW put up at least five runs for the third-consecutive game.
-A balanced offensive effort led the Badgers to the win as six players recorded at least one hit. Sara Novak and Kelly Welsh shared team-high honors with two hits each.
-Novak had herself a weekend against the Terrapins as she collected five hits, two runs and three RBI in the sweep.
-Freshman Kaitlyn Menz threw 6.0 innings, allowing four hits and walking three batters.
 
Details from the Dugout:
"The sweep feels awesome. We've just been doing what we've been doing, taking it one game at a time, one pitch at a time. To have it all come together and get three wins in a row against a pretty good team out here is really exciting."
 
"I think as the season wears down and we've only got a handful of games left, every game from now on is going to be Championship Sunday. We were joking around that Friday was "Championship Friday" and Saturday was "Championship Saturday," today was "Championship Sunday." We're taking it on game at a time and just really enjoying being able to be out there with everybody."
 
"To get three wins going into the postseason, I think we've got everything moving in the right direction at the right time. We're peaking at the right time. We had a good preseason and then had some ups and downs, but for us to be making strides right now, it's really exciting to jump into the Big Ten Tournament and see who we play next."
-Sophomore Kelly Welsh
 
"It's awesome, more so because we found a way to show up every day and get some momentum going into the postseason. Starting this week we're playing for our lives every game. Every pitch matters."
 
"We're just really happy right now, I know for the sophomores and juniors, this is their first ever Big Ten sweep, so it's really awesome to be able to make that memory for them too."
 
"Personally I feel confident, I know the team does too. I think that that's going to be a huge asset to us in the Big Ten Tournament, to just know that we played every team tough and we're capable of beating anyone on any day as long as we show up and play good softball. We're really excited."
-Senior Sara Novak
 
"It was great to come out the last weekend of the year, to win a conference series on the road is always a big deal, but to do it with the sweep, that's what you want to see from your team. Playing well down the stretch and finish our last couple conference series out. To get a win against ranked Michigan, a win against Illinois and come out and sweep Maryland, we love it."
 
"Sara Novak has been hitting the ball well all year, I really think she's one of those kids that hasn't gotten all of the attention because there are so many people contributing on the team, but she had a strong weekend. She really led the way, starting the entire week. She hit well mid-week, she hit well all weekend."
 
"I thought Kelly Welsh struggled a little bit the last two days and then played her best softball on Sunday. That's a big thing we talk about, it doesn't matter in the season and the series, if you're not seeing the ball well there is always another day. She turned it on today.
 
"I was really impressed today too with KJ's defense. You look at that, she's someone known as an offensive kid and someone who's going to lead the way as your leadoff hitter. But for her to go out there and play the game that she did defensively really shows a lot about her heart and character."
 
"It feels good. The Big Ten is so strong, it's such a tough conference. To be able to get 11 wins and be a .500 team in conference is a really big deal in a conference like ours. We're proud of what the team did preseason, we're proud about our conference season, and now you head into the postseason. Then to make the Big Ten tournament is a big honor, we're really excited about that, and now it's all about winning one game at a time. It's happened very few times in the history of the program just to get to the tournament, and then to be a team that puts up a win in the tournament, so you take it one game at a time and put everything you can into that first game."
-UW Head Coach Yvette Healy
 
Up Next:
The Badgers head to the Big Ten Tournament from May 11-13 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The team will learn its seed and opponent on Monday night.