Friday, April 26
Bloomington, IN
5 PM
Wisconsin Badgers
at
Indiana University
Around the Horn: Badgers ready for last away series
April 23, 2024 | Softball
Wisconsin travels to Indiana to take on Hoosiers
MADISON, Wis. – After a cancelation of their Tuesday double-header against South Dakota State, the Wisconsin softball team (17-26, 6-11) will play its next series against the Indiana Hoosiers in a weekend match-up at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington. The Badgers are coming off a series defeat Penn State despite a historic second game of the series.
Here's what you need to know:
1. BIG GAME BADGERS – The Badgers won in a big way during the second game of their series against Penn State, scoring 17 runs in the victory. This ties the program record for most runs scored in a game, which happened three times in program history, with the latest occurring in 2014. The Badgers scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, where they sent 15 batters up to the plate, and hit three home runs. The offense was led by Skylar Sirdashney, who not only hit her first career multi-home run game, but also hit a grand slam to secure seven RBIs in the game. She is just the fifth player to record seven RBI in a game for Wisconsin.
2. ALL HAIL HILARY – During that 10-run inning for the Badgers, Hilary Blomberg collected two hits, including a home run. Blomberg has been one of Wisconsin's most effective hitters this season, and continued that trend this last week. In five games against Minnesota and Penn State, the freshman went 6-for-16 with two home runs, a double, and seven RBI. Blomberg also pitched in two games, recording a strikeout in a scoreless inning against Minnesota. The Verona-native is second on the team with a .337 batting average, currently the fifth best batting average by a freshman in UW history.
3. HITTING OFF HOOSIERS – Wisconsin and Indiana have played six times since 2021, meaning plenty of Badgers have experience against the Hoosiers. Peyton Bannon is 5-for-15 in her career with two triples and a double in those games. Fiona Girardot had a memorable performance against Indiana in 2022, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Skylar Sirdashney hit her first career home run and her first multi-hit game against them on Feb. 27, 2021. Brooke Kuffel has reached base in all four games she's played against the Hoosiers in her career, While Molly Schlosser scored five runs in those same four games.
4. INSPECTING INDIANA – Wisconsin leads the all-time series against Indiana 30-19, winning the two teams' lone match-up last season 12-1. The Hoosiers are 34-13 overall this season, sitting at fourth in the Big Ten with a 10-7 conference record, with all 10 of those wins coming in their last 11 conference games. Indiana is the best hitting team in the Big Ten thus far, leading the conference in average, runs, home runs, and OPS. They have five players on the team who have stolen 10+ bases, including the most recent Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week, Alex Cooper. Taylor Minnick and Sarah Stone both sport an OPS over 1.050. Brianna Copeland is notable for being one of the best two-way players in the game, with an OPS of .986 while tossing 139.2 innings with a 2.46 ERA, contributing to Indiana's 2.89 team ERA.
5. HOW TO WATCH – Each game of the series will be streamed on Big Ten Plus, with the first occurring an 5 PM CT, the second at 1PM CT, and the final at 12PM 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.
Here's what you need to know:
1. BIG GAME BADGERS – The Badgers won in a big way during the second game of their series against Penn State, scoring 17 runs in the victory. This ties the program record for most runs scored in a game, which happened three times in program history, with the latest occurring in 2014. The Badgers scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, where they sent 15 batters up to the plate, and hit three home runs. The offense was led by Skylar Sirdashney, who not only hit her first career multi-home run game, but also hit a grand slam to secure seven RBIs in the game. She is just the fifth player to record seven RBI in a game for Wisconsin.
2 HR's, 7 RBI!
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) April 20, 2024
What a day for @skydash02 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/N2kLPCDhFw
2. ALL HAIL HILARY – During that 10-run inning for the Badgers, Hilary Blomberg collected two hits, including a home run. Blomberg has been one of Wisconsin's most effective hitters this season, and continued that trend this last week. In five games against Minnesota and Penn State, the freshman went 6-for-16 with two home runs, a double, and seven RBI. Blomberg also pitched in two games, recording a strikeout in a scoreless inning against Minnesota. The Verona-native is second on the team with a .337 batting average, currently the fifth best batting average by a freshman in UW history.
3. HITTING OFF HOOSIERS – Wisconsin and Indiana have played six times since 2021, meaning plenty of Badgers have experience against the Hoosiers. Peyton Bannon is 5-for-15 in her career with two triples and a double in those games. Fiona Girardot had a memorable performance against Indiana in 2022, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Skylar Sirdashney hit her first career home run and her first multi-hit game against them on Feb. 27, 2021. Brooke Kuffel has reached base in all four games she's played against the Hoosiers in her career, While Molly Schlosser scored five runs in those same four games.
4. INSPECTING INDIANA – Wisconsin leads the all-time series against Indiana 30-19, winning the two teams' lone match-up last season 12-1. The Hoosiers are 34-13 overall this season, sitting at fourth in the Big Ten with a 10-7 conference record, with all 10 of those wins coming in their last 11 conference games. Indiana is the best hitting team in the Big Ten thus far, leading the conference in average, runs, home runs, and OPS. They have five players on the team who have stolen 10+ bases, including the most recent Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week, Alex Cooper. Taylor Minnick and Sarah Stone both sport an OPS over 1.050. Brianna Copeland is notable for being one of the best two-way players in the game, with an OPS of .986 while tossing 139.2 innings with a 2.46 ERA, contributing to Indiana's 2.89 team ERA.
5. HOW TO WATCH – Each game of the series will be streamed on Big Ten Plus, with the first occurring an 5 PM CT, the second at 1PM CT, and the final at 12PM 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.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
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