Badgers in Big Ten Tournament, 2024
Ashley Steltenpohl
4
Wisconsin WIS 21-31
6
Winner Michigan MICH 40-16
Wisconsin WIS
21-31
4
Final
6
Michigan MICH
40-16
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Wisconsin WIS 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 4 0
Michigan MICH 2 0 0 1 3 0 X 6 7 0

W: Derkowski, Lauren (18-8) L: Salo , Gabi (5-5)

Game Recap: Softball | | Jake Ross

Wisconsin's tournament run ends after 6-4 defeat

Badgers fall to Michigan in first semifinal since 2019

IOWA CITY, Iowa. – The Wisconsin softball team (21-31, 8-15) was eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament this Friday, losing to No. 2 Michigan 6-4. The Badgers won its previous two games in the tournament, becoming the first No. 11 seed to advance to the semifinal game. Michigan took a big lead during the middle innings of the game, and Wisconsin's late comeback fell short. It was Wisconsin's first game in the semifinal game since 2019.

How it Happened:
 
Wisconsin started the game with a lead off walk from Fiona Girardot. With a runner on base, the red-hot Hilary Blomberg walked up to the plate after hitting home runs in both the previous tournament games. The freshman then kept up her streak as she launched the first pitch of the at-bat over the wall to give Wisconsin the early two-run lead.
 
 
Michigan scored in nearly the exact same way in the next frame, however. Gabi Salo got the start in the game for the Badgers. After walking the second batter, Salo gave up a two-run homer to tie the game.
 
Both pitchers settled down from there, each throwing two scoreless innings after the first. The first signs of blemish from Salo came in the bottom of the fourth, after she gave up back-to-back doubles which gave the Wolverines their first lead of the game. The hits knocked Salo out of the game, replaced by sophomore Shelby Jacobson in relief.
 
To begin the bottom of the fifth, Jacobson allowed two baserunners to reach via a hit by pitch and a walk. She came back to strike out the next two batters, but with two out Michigan hit a demoralizing three-run home run for the Badgers, putting them up 6-2.
 
The Badgers struggled to get going offensively throughout the game. Through 6.2 innings pitched for Michigan, Lauren Derkowski racked up eleven strikeouts allowing just one hit, Blomberg's home run back in the first. The Badgers began a small rally in the top of the seventh, walking with two-outs, and then putting up back-to-back singles to score two runs, but ultimately, Wisconsin fell 6-4.

Blomberg proved to be the highlight of the tournament. Overall, she finished the tournament 6-for-11 with three home runs, and nine RBI. The freshman's three home runs are the most by a Badger in tournament history, and she became the fifth player in Big Ten history to hit three or more home runs. She also set records for RBI as well. Her eight RBI are the most for a Badger during a single tournament and tied for the fourth most in conference history. She set the Badgers single-game RBI record earlier in the tournament as well with five.
 
Gabi Salo took the loss, 5-5, going 3.0 innings and allowing three earned runs. Jacobson allowed three runs as well in 2.0 innings. And Tessa Magnanimo pitched in her third straight game of the tournament, pitching 1.0 inning and allowing no runs.


Batting Cleanup
  • Hilary Blomberg went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. The freshman finished her season leading the team in average -.365 – as well as OPS – 1.014. Her average is the highest by a freshman in program history, beating Maria van Abels 2012 record of .354. Her OPS is the fourth highest in Badger freshman history.
  • Ava Kuszak went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. The sophomore finished her season with a .318 batting average, and led the team in total bases with 94.
  • Tessa Magnanimo pitched her third straight game of the tournament. Over 15.0 innings pitched in those games, the senior pitched allowed just three earned runs.
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