MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Madison softball team fell to Illinois in the first game losing 6-4, before bouncing back to win the second game of the doubleheader and secure the series victory, winning 10-9.

GAME 1

Brooke Kuffel set the tone on the game's first play with a diving catch in shallow left field to deny Illinois (22-14, 1-5) of a base hit. Tessa Magnanimo earned the start after her career-best nine strikeouts in the series' first game. She continued her impressive play striking out the next two batters for a one-two-three start in the top of the first for Wisconsin (17-10, 4-2). 

Kuffel continued seeing the ball well, kicking off the bottom of the second with a single to the left, making it her fifth-straight game with a hit. With a walk and a fielder's choice, Peyton Bannon, pinch-running for Kuffel, found herself at third base in a prime position to score with just one out. Christaana Angelopulos placed a squeeze bunt down just feet away from the home base, and Bannon utilized her speed to make it home on a close play in the second inning. Molly Schlosser followed up the small ball play with a sacrifice fly to center field for an RBI, and Wisconsin secured an early 2-0 lead. 

It was none other than Brooke Kuffel once again who found her way on base with her second single of the game in the third inning following a Kayla Konwent walk. Ellie Hubbard added another run for Wisconsin, scoring Marytherese Nevin, pinch-running for Konwent on a single of her own. 

However, Illinois did not allow Wisconsin to stay comfortable with their lead, as the Fighting Illini racked up four hits in the fourth inning, including a triple, double, and two singles to score two runs. Molly Schlosser responded with a double in the bottom of the inning, however, was left stranded to end the inning. 

The visiting team was not done yet as they brought in another score off a solo home run in the fifth. Just one inning later, the Big Ten rival capitalized off of an error by Wisconsin's defense to load the bases, and they brought three runs off of three hits. 

Christaana Angelopulos attempted to start a late-game rally, despite being down 6-3 and knocked one out of the park in the bottom of the sixth to minimize the deficit to two. However, the Badgers were not able to add anything else and lost the game 6-4. 

Magnanimo threw four innings and struck out five batters while on the mound. Senior Maddie Schwartz came in for 1.2 innings and gave up three runs, all unearned. Gabi Salo came in for relief, closed the game, and struck out one in the 1.1 innings she pitched.

GAME TWO

The Badgers came out with a vengeance in the second game of the doubleheader and final game of the series. Illinois carried their victorious momentum into the first inning, hitting a four-bagger to go up by one. That was the only time the Fighting Illini held a lead in the seven-inning matchup. 

Ellie Hubbard responded right back in the bottom of the first with a bomb to left center to score both her and Katie Keller, who had walked in her first at-bat. Kayla Konwent also drew a walk, and Brooke Kuffel smacked Wisconsin's second home run in the inning to give the Badgers a 4-1 lead. 

The strength of the offense continued to fire on all cylinders as Katie Keller ripped a triple to the right field line to score Rylie Crane, who singled to right while up at the plate. Ellie Hubbard then advanced on an error and Keller was able to make it home, extending the Badger's lead 6-1. The Badger momentum carried into Kuffel's at-bat when once again crushed her second home run of the game, scoring three for Wisconsin. In just two innings, the Badgers held a 9-1 advantage. 

Illinois slowly crawled back and scored their second run in the next frame off of two singles and an RBI double. However, Wisconsin was able to add what would end up being a crucial run in the bottom of the third. An error, hit by pitch, and a Katie Keller single loaded the bases for the Badgers, and Kayla Konwent was hit by a pitch for the second time that game to bring Wisconsin's tenth run across. 

The Fighting Illini upheld their name as they fought back, scoring four runs in the fourth inning off of five hits with two doubles and two singles. In the fifth inning, Illinois' Delaney Rummel came up with a solo homer to cut the Badgers lead to just two, with a score of 10-8. A sacrifice fly later on in the inning plated one more run for Illinois, the last run that would be scored in this game. 

Illinois had the tying run on second after a one-out double, but Tessa Magnanimo sat down the next two Illini batters in order and hang on for the win.

Magnanimo (3-1) threw a complete game and secured the narrow win with a final score of 10-9. In her second outing of the day, the senior struck out four batters to go along with her five K's in the first game. 

"Batting Cleanup"

• This is the first time a Badger has hit two home runs in one game since Chris Angelopulos did it on April 3, 2022 against Indiana.
• Brooke Kuffel had five RBI's in the second game, the first time a player has done that since Feb. 19, 2017, when Brooke Wyderski accumulated that amount against Hofstra.
• With Katie Keller's double this series, giving her six on the season, she is now fifth on the list for career doubles (78) in all of NCAA D1 softball history.

Up Next: The Badgers will have just one day off before hosting the University of St. Thomas for another double header, with the first game scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 4 from Goodman Diamond.