Wisconsin Badgers
University of Illinois
Around the Horn: The Badgers welcome Illinois for first home series
March 29, 2023 | Softball
Wisconsin set to host the Fighting Illini over the weekend
|  Venue |  Goodman Diamond | Madison, Wis. |
| Â Live Statistics | Â Game 1Â |Â Game 2Â | Game 3Â |
| Â Watch (B10+) | Â Game 1Â |Â Game 2Â | Game 3 |
|  Notes  |  Wisconsin |
|  Social Media |  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |
MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin women's softball team will turn to the University of Illinois this upcoming weekend for its first Big Ten series at Goodman Diamond this season.Â
1. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers were scheduled to host their home opener against Green Bay on Tuesday, March 28 but due to poor field conditions Wisconsin was forced to cancel the doubleheader. Before that, The Wisconsin women's softball team had a successful first weekend in conference play, winning two of its three games against Michigan State. The Badgers split their first day against the Spartans, winning 5-3 on Friday afternoon and losing the second game 3-8. Skylar Sirdashney hit her first home run of the year in the team's win to give Wisconsin a 3-1 lead. In the second game, graduate senior Kayla Konwent delivered with a solo home run of her own in an attempt to put the Badgers back in the game. Wisconsin came out ready to swing Sunday morning as the team put up ten hits in its 9-3 victory, capped off by a four-run, four-double hit fifth inning.Â
2. SIRDASHNEY STARTING SUCCESS: Junior Skylar Sirdashney has been consistently successful in her leadoff position on offense. Although Wisconsin changes their starting lineup here and there, while Sirdashney hits in the one spot the team is 12-3, the best record of any of the players that have been tested there. The Texas native currently leads the team in doubles with six, which is double the amount that she finished with last year. Sirdashney currently has the fourth highest batting average, .300, on the team and is tied for second with 11 runs scored. She is also successful in finding her way on base while being second on the team with an on base percentage of .417 and has the longest reached base streak with 11.
3. HUBBARD CAN HIT: Sophomore Ellie Hubbard has found her groove on offense as of recently after accumulating four hits, tied for the most of any Badger, and a batting average of .444 over the weekend against Michigan State. Hubbard started the season somewhat slow grabbing just three hits in her first 11 games. However, she now has 13 hits in the last 13 games that the Badgers have played and she currently holds a hit streak of three games. As a freshman, Hubbard had the fifth best batting average on the team with 37 hits and she looks to continue to improve those numbers and produce on offense for the Wisconsin Badgers softball team.Â
4. SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: The University of Illinois has found success in the early part of the season with a record of 19-13 currently, however, struggled in their conference opener against Rutgers last weekend, dropping all three games despite putting up five runs in the first game and eight in the third. Wisconsin holds a 20-31 record against Illinois and is 1-6 in its last seven games. Kelly Ryono is finding great success thus far into her senior season with a .384 batting average with 38 hits, six home runs, and 31 RBIs. On the defensive end, fifth year pitcher Sydney Sickels leads the way in her 17 appearances on the mound with 86 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.20.Â
5. UP NEXT: The Badgers will remain in Madison following their home opener against Illinois to host the University of St. Thomas for a double header on Tuesday, April 4 before heading to Purdue for three games over the weekend of April 7-9.Â
