PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Thanks to three home runs and stellar pitching by junior Maddie Schwartz, the Wisconsin softball team captured its fourth win in its last five tries with an 8-0 six-inning victory at Rutgers on Friday afternoon.

Peyton Bannon got the Badgers (9-16) on the board early, launching a leadoff home run into left field on the sixth pitch of the game to give UW a 1-0 lead.

Here's a look at Bannon's leadoff jack! pic.twitter.com/afi0BX2rNT

— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) April 16, 2021

The Badgers came close to adding more runs in the opening inning as Fiona Girardot and Abby Herbst each drew walks, but UW was unable to add to their lead.

UW's offense struck again in the third inning to double the advantage. After Bannon drew a walk, Fiona Girardot lifted a double into left field to advance Bannon to third. Herbst drew another walk before Megan Donahue launched a ball into center field that scored Bannon from third.

The Badgers took control of the game in the sixth, batting around the order. After Megan Donahue opened the inning with a double, Christaana Angelopulos hit a rocket beyond the left field fence to give UW a 4-0 advantage.

No doubt about this one!#Badgers || #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/c6kHzgSxUp

— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) April 16, 2021

After a Lauren Foster walk, Skylar Sirdashney went yard on her birthday to give UW a 6-0 lead.

T6: That's one way to celebrate a birthday as @skydash02 hits a two-run blast on her birthday to extend the #Badgers lead to six! pic.twitter.com/yiMG4Nq5P4

— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) April 16, 2021

Later in the inning, Abby Herbst hit a single into left center to plate Ally Miklesh before Donahue hit her second double of the inning to score Bannon, giving UW an 8-0 advantage.

Maddie Schwartz enjoyed another stellar outing in the circle, going five innings while allowing three hits, no walks and striking out six Scarlet Knights. Freshman Ava Justman came into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and earned a strikeout in her third appearance for the Cardinal and White.

Batting Cleanup
- UW collected nine walks, a season-high mark. Bannon, Girardot, Herbst and Sirdashney all had two walks on the afternoon.
- All three home runs by the Badgers were hit by freshmen.
- UW earned its second run-rule win of the year and its first since defeating Ohio State 10-1 in six innings on March 11.
- The Badgers earned their fourth shutout of the year and their second in their last four games. 

Up Next
UW will play two games against Rutgers on Saturday starting at noon CT before the two teams wrap up their series on Sunday with a 10 a.m. contest.