Around the Horn: Softball ready for Penn State series

Friday, April 19

Madison, WI

3 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Penn State University

Ava Kuszak throwing to first at Minnesota

Around the Horn: Softball ready for Penn State series

April 18, 2024 | Softball

Wisconsin takes on Nittany Lions at home

By: Jake Ross

MADISON, Wis. – Coming off the back of a historic double-header against Minnesota, in which Tessa Magnanimo threw the programs 12^th no hitter, the Wisconsin softball team (16-24, 5-9) travels back to Madison to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions. The series will be played on Friday, Saturday, Sunday for an important conference match-up against one of the Big Ten's top teams.

Here's what you need to know:

1. NO HITS FOR YOU – The first game of the series featured the 12^th no-hitter in program history, dealt by Tessa Magnanimo. The fifth year grad went 7.0 innings, allowing no hits, and striking out six batters. After walking a Minnesota batter in the first inning, Magnanimo retired the next 20 batters in a row. It's just the fourth no-hitter in program history with only one baserunner allowed. It's the first Badger no-hitter since Maddie Schwartz threw one against Purdue on April 7, 2023. Even though it's Magnanimo's first career no-hitter, it's her tenth complete game of the season, and her fourth shutout.

The play that completed history for @tessahelena

The 12th no-hitter in program history! pic.twitter.com/yrknjEprtw
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) April 17, 2024

2. FRESHMEN DOUBLE TROUBLE – Two of the most successful hitters in the games against Minnesota were Alivia Bark and Hilary Blomberg. Blomberg collected a hit in each game of the double-header including an RBI double in the no-hitter win. Bark went 2-for-3 in game two with a double of her own, in fact the two Badger freshmen have been adept at hitting two-baggers all season. Blomberg now has nine doubles on the season, the sixth most for a freshman in program history, tying her with her current teammate Ellie Hubbard. Bark, who now has 10 doubles, is tied for fifth. The most records hit by a Badger freshman is 12, accomplished by Peyton Bannon three seasons ago.

3. PENN STATE PUNISHERS – Out of all the Wisconsin hitters, Ellie Hubbard seems to love hitting against the Nittany Lions the most. In her three games against PSU, the junior is 6-for-11 with two doubles, good for a .545/.583/.727 slash line. Fiona Girardot and Molly Schlosser have found success as well. Of Girardot's five career hits against Penn State, four of them have gone for extra-bases, including three doubles and one home run. Schlosser owns four hits against the Nittany Lions in three games, her first career three-hit game came against Penn State, in the two teams' last matchup.

4. NITTANY LION LOOKOUT – While Wisconsin trails in the all-time series against Penn State 30-25, the Badgers have won 7 of the last 8 games and are 13-11 in games at Goodman. The two teams last played each other in 2022, where Wisconsin won two of three. The Nittany Lions are 30-11 overall this season, sitting at fourth in the Big Ten with a 9-5 conference record, but are just 2-3 on the road in conference games. Penn State is a well-rounded team, with both an above-average offense and pitching staff. While they rank tenth in the conference in home runs, they make up for it by having the most combined doubles and triples of any team in the Big Ten. Maddie Gordon is a big contributor to this, as she has 91 total bases and leads the conference with 15 doubles. She is also one of four hitters on the team with an OPS above 1.000. The team boasts two pitchers with plus 90 innings pitched, with the standout being Bridget Nemeth. In 129.1 innings pitched, Nemeth has a 1.51 ERA, a .98 WHIP, and is 18-3.

5. HOW TO WATCH – Each game of the series will be streamed on Big Ten Plus, with the first occurring on 3 PM CT. Due to expected cold temperatures Friday night, game one of the series has been moved from 5 PM (CT) to 3 PM (CT). Live stats for every game are available on the Badger softball schedule on uwbadgers.com, and live updates will be given on the @badgersoftball Facebook, X, and Instagram pages. 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+).