MADISON, Wis. – Despite home runs from seniors
Morgan Kummer and
Kayla Konwent, the Wisconsin softball team dropped a 13-9 senior-day thriller on Sunday to No. 22 Michigan at Goodman Diamond.
The Wolverines were first to score in the top of the first, but the Badgers came back right away in the bottom of the second to take to 3-2 lead thanks to a senior day long-ball from
Morgan Kummer. With
Fiona Girardot reaching via a walk and
Peyton Bannon hitting a single, Kummer set one over the left field wall. Kummer and everyone at Goodman Diamond knew it was gone off the bat as Wisconsin took its first lead of the series.
With
Maddie Schwartz retiring the side scoreless in the second, more excitement from the Badger offense came in the bottom of the second as senior
Kayla Konwent hit another Wisconsin home run over the left field fence, this one a record breaking home run for Konwent as she passed Chloe Miller's career home run record with her 32nd long-ball in a Badger uniform.
Michigan responded with two more runs in the third before Wisconsin added four insurance runs in the fourth innings. After loading the bases with no outs, Konwent scored Schlosser for the first RBI followed by a Girardot hit to score
Ellie Hubbard. Continuing her hot hiitting, Kummer singled up the middle to score
Abby Herbst and Girardot for a 9-4 lead.
Battling back in the final innings, Michigan rallied off nine unanswered runs to cap the game off at 13-9 and earn the series sweep.
Errors plagued UW on the defensive end as Schwartz finished the day going 5.2 innings only allowing four earned runs with
Tessa Magnanimo and
Gabi Salo combining for 1.1 innings, giving up three earned runs.
Batting Cleanup
- Wisconsin put up their best hitting game of the series with seven total hits and nine runs.
- Bannon went 2-2 with seven putouts on the day.
- Kummer totaled five of Wisconsin's RBI's going 2-4 from the plate.
Straight from the Diamond
Head Coach Yvette Healy
On her seniors' performance:
"It was so amazing to see
Morgan Kummer come out and put a charge on the ball early and she came out with so much heart and passion as a senior, which was great and
Kayla Konwent breaks the home run record on senior day and the last home game in front of a crowd like that against Michigan, I mean she will tell her kids about that."
Senior Kayla Konwent
On Senior Day:
"I think it's awesome the parents get to come out there (on the field) because they're the real reason we're here. Without them we wouldn't be anything. It's awesome that we get to celebrate our families and it's a bittersweet memory. The fans have been amazing my five years and they continue to be amazing.
On breaking the home run record:
"I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity. I don't necessarily think about hitting home runs. I actually don't know how many home runs I have. There's nothing cooler than running the bases and giving my mom a thumbs up in the stands and being able to celebrate with the team. I think it's still just the beginning. We still have the Big Ten tournament coming and so I don't want to be complacent - I want to keep pumping on all cylinders."
Up Next: Wisconsin will advance to the Big Ten Tournament starting next Wednesday in East Lansing. The Badgers will wait for results to go final in the Big Ten on Sunday as they await their seed and projected opponent for the beginning of the post season.
