MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin softball team (19-28, 8-13) lost the first game of its final regular season series against Maryland. The Badgers fell behind during a five-run third inning by the Terrapins and were unable to overcome the deficit, with Maryland piling on the damage in the seventh inning. Wisconsin collected just three hits in the loss and committed four errors in the field.

How it Happened:

Maryland produced two big innings against the Badgers. The first of which came in the third inning. The first seven Terrapin batters reached base off Wisconsin starter Gabi Salo. Two of those were infield singles, with another reaching via error. Five total hits in the inning brought home five runs for Maryland.

Shelby Jacobson replaced Salo during the third, and pitched well through the middle innings, with just one earned run allowed through the sixth inning. Things fell apart for the Badgers in the seventh inning, however. Maryland put up a six-spot in the frame, four of those runs coming off two errors.

Wisconsin's four total errors in the game accounted for six unearned runs in the game. The defensive woes came off a barrage of balls hit into play, 35 in the game from Maryland. All 13 of the Terrapin's hits were singles, many just sneaking through the infield. Maryland also effectively played small ball throughout the game, laying down two sacrifice hits. The Terrapins struck out just once in the game.

Salo went 2.0 innings, allowing six hits and five runs, three of them earned. She took the loss, and now stands at 5-4. Jacobson pitched 5.0 Innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs, just three of them earned.

Offensively, Wisconsin struggled to put balls in play against Maryland's Courtney Wyche. Wyche struck out 13 Badgers in the game, the most the team has struck out in any game this season. The Badgers scored two runs off five hits, with Skylar Sirdashney accounting for two of those hits, including an RBI single in the third inning. Peyton Bannon brought home the other run for Wisconsin in the fourth inning, with a sacrifice fly.

Batting Cleanup

• Hilary Blomberg went 1-for-3 with a double. Her 12 doubles this season tie the all-time Badger freshman record. Blomberg also extends her hit-streak to six games.
• Skylar Sirdashney went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. The senior is now hitting .309 for the season.

Up Next: The series continues Saturday with a new game time of 11 am (CT). With rain and storms projected in the afternoon, the game has been moved up. The game will be streamed 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.