MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin softball team (29-16, 9-8) won its first game in the border battle series, taking down Minnesota, 9-6.

The game started as a small ball contest, before the Badgers provided the power in the bottom of the sixth.

Tied up at 3-3, Ellie Hubbard led off the frame by smacking a pitch over the wall, giving the Badgers the lead. The runs didn't stop from there as Kendra Lewis notched an RBI single and Emily Bojan drove in another on a fielder's choice. It was Emmy Wells, however, who provided the biggest blow, a three-run home run to push the lead to 9-3.

Minnesota forced a save situation in the next frame, hitting a home run to cut the deficit to three runs. Gabi Salo came into the inning to close it out though, as Wisconsin took the first game of the series, 9-6.

Before the home runs, the game was a small ball affair. Only one of the first 12 hits went for extra bases, a double from Hilary Blomberg, and three of the six runs were scored from sacrifice flies and fielder's choice plays.

The Badgers got on the board first with an RBI single from Kendra Lewis in the bottom of the third, scoring Blomberg who reached with a double. Minnesota put across two runs in the next frame, singling in a runner who reached via error and an infield hit.

Wisconsin showed off its speed to come back in the bottom of the fourth. A walk and a bunt single set up another bunt opportunity, with Alivia Bark delivering the sacrifice hit to move the runners to third and second. Molly Schlosser then reached on an infield single to tie the game up at 2-2. Hilary Blomberg went on to give the Badgers the 3-2 lead with a fielder's choice.

Starting for Wisconsin was Molly Jacobson, who excelled at keeping the ball in the infield for the first six innings. Jacobson only struck out one batter in the game, but coaxed 10 ground ball outs from the Gophers. Until the seventh inning, the only runs scored off Jacobson were either unearned or reached on an infield hit.

Jacobson (11-3) took the win after letting up four earned runs in 6.1 innings, allowing just five hits. Gabi Salo collected the final two outs, and struck out the final batter of the game.

Batting Cleanup

• Ellie Hubbard went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run. Hubbard is now 5-for-6 in her last three games.
• Kendra Lewis extended her hitting streak to eight games, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
• Hilary Blomberg went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Blomberg now has collected three hits in back-to-back games after going 3-for-3 last time out against NDSU.
• Molly Jacobson earned her sixth victory in her last six appearances. She has a 3.29 ERA in that span.

 

Up Next:

The Badgers continue the series against Minnesota tomorrow at 12 p.m. (CT). Game two streams on B1G+.