Around the Horn: Badgers take on Maryland for final series

Friday, May 3

Madison, WI

5 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

University of Maryland

Photo by: Ashley Steltenpohl

Around the Horn: Badgers take on Maryland for final series

May 02, 2024 | Softball

Seniors to be honored before last regular season game

By: Jake Ross

MADISON, Wis. – After a high-scoring series win against Indiana, the Wisconsin softball team (19-27, 8-12) will travel back to Madison to play its final games at home for the season, as well as its last regular season series of the season. Wisconsin will take on the Maryland Terrapins at Goodman Diamond for the first time ever. Wisconsin has clinched a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, and currently sits at tenth in the conference, while Maryland is at twelfth, fighting to stay in the last tournament spot.

Here's what you need to know:

1. HUGE HIT HILARY – No Badger is currently hotter at the plate than Hilary Blomberg. She collected three extra base hits in the series victory against Indiana, including a two-run home run in game two. The freshman is on a five game hitting streak, and is 9-for-17 during that stretch with three home runs, two doubles, and ten RBI. Blomberg leads the team with a .351 batting average, and is chasing Maria Van Abel's record .354 freshmen batting average set in 2012. She is also tied with her teammate Alivia Bark for the second most doubles by a freshman with 11. The current record is 12, set by another teammate of theirs, Peyton Bannon.

2. RECORD CHASING WELLS– Blomberg isn't the only player chasing records for the Badgers. During the Indiana series, Emmy Wells hit three home runs, including a 2-for-4, two home run performance in game one. Wells surpassed Chloe Miller for the most home runs hit by a Badger player in their debut season with the team. Wells now has 14 home runs on the season, tied with Taylor Johnson for the second most in a season for Wisconsin. Wells is just one home run away from Kayla Konwent's 2019 record of 15, with three regular season games remaining.

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3. TERRAPIN HISTORY – Wisconsin and Maryland have played each other just nine times in the programs' history, with UW leading the all-time series 5-4. This series will mark the first time the two will ever play each other at Goodman Diamond. The teams have played each other four times since 2021, with some notable Badger performances in that stretch. Skylar Sirdashney scored the only run in a 1-0 win against the Terrapins in 2021. Sirdashney, a freshman at the time, went 2-for-2 with both her first career double and triple. It was Fiona Girardot's RBI double that drove Sirdashney in that game. Peyton Bannon went 2-for-2 in another 1-0 victory in 2023, her sacrifice bunt in the 7^th inning allowed for a runner to move to third, and eventually win the game on a sacrifice fly.

4. MARYLAND SCOUTING – Maryland is 20-29 this season, struggling on the road this season at 3-15. They have a conference record of 5-15, most recently losing a series to Purdue, but taking a 5-4, ten-inning win in game two. Maryland is middle of the pack in most offensive categories in the Big Ten this season but have strong showings on the mound. They have the second most strikeouts of any conference team, and have excelled at preventing baserunners, with an extremely low 1.26 WHIP. Courtney Wyche is the ace of the squad, her 209 strikeouts not only lead the Big Ten, but is forty more than the next highest player. Maryland sports a lot of speed as well. Jaeda McFarland not only is hitting .356 with a 1.070 OPS, but also leads the conference in triples with 13, and is 17-19 on stolen base attempts this season.

5. SUPER SENIORS – Sunday's game against Maryland will be senior day, where five seniors will be honored prior to the game. Each of the seniors have contributed to the team in big ways this season. Peyton Bannon is hitting .345 at home this season, and is responsible for some of the best defensive plays of the year. Tessa Magnanimo leads the team with 140.2 innings pitched, and tossed the program's 12^th no hitter against Minnesota last month. Fiona Girardot sports an impressive .405 on base percentage, and has as many walks as strikeouts for the season. Skylar Sirdashney is hitting a career-high .283, and became the fifth player to rack up seven RBI in a single game earlier against Penn State. Finally, Gabi Salo leads the team with a 3.17 ERA, and has four games this season with 8+ strikeouts.

EXTRA INNINGS - On Sunday, April 28, Peyton Bannon set a new program record for most triples in a career (15). Bannon's three-bagger last Sunday surpassed Mary Massei (2011-14) who held the record at 14.

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 1PM CT as well. 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+).