MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin softball team (14-22, 3-7) picked up their first win at home this season, defeating Ohio State in a high-powered 8-4 game. The Badgers trailed after the third inning but fought their way to a victory with a five-run fifth inning. Wisconsin hit five extra-base hits in the win, the first game of three against the Buckeyes.
How It Happened:
The Badgers started off the game in a big way. After turning a double-play to end the top of the first,
Fiona Girardot stepped up to the plate to lead off for the Badgers and hit a long ball to center-field to give the Badgers the early lead. Two batters later,
Emmy Wells crushed a pitch for a solo shot of her own, making the score 2-0.
Â
Â
Starter
Tessa Magnanimo cruised through the first two innings, but ran into trouble in the third, when an errant throw allowed an Ohio State runner to score from second. The Buckeyes continued to put the ball in play, collected two more hits to score two more runs, putting OSU on top 3-2.
Â
While the Badgers committed two-errors in the game, resulting in runs, the defense had some bright spots as well. Wisconsin turned a double-play and allowed just one extra-base hit, while
Ava Kuszak made one of the best plays of the season. The shortstop, full sprint, laid out to snag a ball that floated over the infield, robbing the batter of a hit.
Â
The Wisconsin rally started in the fourth inning, when
Ellie Hubbard doubled to score
Brooke Kuffel, tying the game. The big inning for Wisconsin came during the fifth however. The Badgers loaded the bases with two outs, before
Peyton Bannon untied the game with a single to left field, scoring two runners. The next at-bat,
Brooke Kuffel launched a three-run home run to give Wisconsin a five-run lead.
Â
Â
Ohio State began to rally in the seventh, loading the bases and scoring off a hit by pitch, but Magnanimo closed the door, winning the game with a score of 8-4.
Â
Magnanimo pitched all seven innings, giving up three earned runs for her ninth complete game of the season. Her record is now 7-10.
Â
Batting Cleanup
- Brooke Kuffel went 3-for-3 with a three-run homerun, her second three-hit game of the season. The junior is 6-for-12 in her last six games.
- Ellie Hubbard hit two doubles in the game, driving in a runner, and is now 4-for-7 in her last four games. It's her first multi-extra base hit since 3/31/23.
- Emmy Wells and Fiona Girardot each hit a home run in the win. It was Well's tenth home run of the season, the most on the team. Girardot hit her third home run of the season, and the 14th of her career.
Â
Up Next:Â The Badgers continue the Ohio State series tomorrow at 1 PM CT. The game can be watched on Big Ten Plus. Live stats are available on the Badger softball schedule on uwbadgers.com, and live updates will be given on the @badgersoftball Facebook, X, and Instagram page. Wisconsin Softball is played at Goodman Diamond. All tickets are general admission and sold at the event only. There are no advanced single game sales. Tickets go on-sale starting one hour prior to the event and are available at the ticket booth located right outside the entrance. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, and $2 for youth (2-17), UW students, and seniors (55+).
Â
