Badgers slug their way to series victory over Hoosiers

Sunday, April 28

Bloomington, IN

12 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

18-27, 0

Indiana University

36-15, 0

Wisconsin

Indiana

Photo by: Ashley Steltenpohl

Badgers slug their way to series victory over Hoosiers

April 28, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

Wisconsin wins series finale 7-1 against Indiana

By: Jake Ross

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Wisconsin softball team (19-27, 8-12) took the series victory over the Indiana Hoosiers, winning the final game 7-1. The Badgers scored three runs in two separate innings, bolstered by home runs from Emmy Wells and Ava Kuszak. The Badges scored 20 runs across the three games in the series.

How it Happened:

The Badgers scored in the first inning of the game; a feat pulled off in all games of the series. After a walk from Ava Kuszak, Hilary Blomberg came up to the plate and doubled, driving in the first run of the game. The next batter, Emmy Wells, came up to the plate and smoked a ball to left center field for her historic 14^th home run of the season. The Badgers finished the inning up 3-0.

🔼1st | NUMBER 14!@emmy_wells1 hits a two run home run, and she is now just one home run away from tying the single season record!

WIS 3 | IU 0 pic.twitter.com/uSjZWEIXHd
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) April 28, 2024

The other big inning for Wisconsin came in the fourth. Two badgers started off the inning by reaching on a walk and an error. This set up an RBI opportunity for Kuszak, who delivered by blasting the pitch out to left center, a three-run bomb that put the Badgers up 6-1.

🔼4th | AVA PUTS US UP BIG!@AvaKuszak hits a three run shot, and the Badgers are up five!

WIS 6 | IU 1 pic.twitter.com/WUoJ5xGa7b
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) April 28, 2024

The seventh and final run for the Badgers came in the next inning, when Ellie Hubbard singled to score Brooke Kuffel. Hubbard finished the game 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI, and a walk.
On the mound for the Badgers was Shelby Jacobson, who pitched one of her best games of the season. Jacobson went the full game, pitching 7.0 innings allowing just three hits and one earned run. The one run coming from an RBI fielder's choice in the third inning. Jacobson, pitched in yesterday's game, now has back-to-back wins. Her record now stands at 4-11.

The Badgers put together a well-rounded hitting performance, with their lead off hitter reaching base in four of the seven innings. Across the series, Wisconsin hit six home runs and six doubles, good for 20 total runs.

Wisconsin also fielded well throughout the series, with just one error across the games. Both yesterday and today's game for the Badgers featured no errors, it's just the fourth time this season in which Wisconsin has recorded no errors in back-to-back games.

Batting Cleanup

Emmy Wells went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. It's her 14th home run of the season, tying her for the second most in any Badger season. The record is 15, set by Kayla Konwent.
Hilary Blomberg went 1-for-2 in the game with an RBI double. Blomberg is now tied for the second most doubles by a freshman in program history with 11.
Ava Kuszak went 1-for-3 with a home run, walk, two runs scored, and three RBI. The sophomore now has eight home runs on the season, and currently has an OPS of 1.006.

Up Next: The Badgers will play their final series of the season, and finals games at home, next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday against the Maryland Terrapins. The games 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 pages.