(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – The Wisconsin softball team outlasted Rutgers in a back-and-forth affair in Friday’s series opener, tallying 17 hits on the offensive end to secure an 11-10 victory.
Redshirt freshman Jaclyn Showalter paced the Badgers (29-17, 13-9 B1G) with the bats, racking up five RBI for the first time in her collegiate career in 3-for-4 performance. UW’s 17 hits is tied for the second-most in a single game in program history, as they last did so in 2013.
In the first, Showalter barreled a double to the outfield to plate two runs right away for the Badgers. The offense followed it up with two more runs in the second inning, as junior Hilary Blomberg guided an RBI single to the opposite field—making it 4-0.
The Scarlet Knights (26-26, 5-17 B1G) answered back quickly in the fourth, utilizing a grand slam to take a 6-4 advantage.
Showalter stepped up once again in the fourth frame, blasting a three-run home run to left field to put the Badgers back out in front at 7-6.
Rutgers brought a fight back offensively, earning two more runs in the top half of the sixth to take the lead at 8-7.
UW continued to sting the ball at the plate, posting four runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-RBI double turned in by junior Alivia Bark. She came around to score on an RBI single from senior Rylie Crane—extending the lead to 10-8. Sophomore Hannah Conger’s RBI groundout proved to be the difference-maker in the series opener, as left-hander Jordan Felci came on and recorded the Badgers’ sixth save of the season—working around a pair of runs allowed to seal a wild 11-10 victory.
Batting Cleanup:
- Wisconsin’s 17 hits is tied for the second-most in program history and good for the most against a Big Ten opponent. The last time UW produced 17 hits was against 2013 at Charlotte.
- UW’s pitching staff has tallied six saves on the season, good for a program record.
- Jaclyn Showalter racked up a career-best five RBI in Friday night’s battle, going 3-for-4 with a pair of extra base hits, including her 10th HR of the season. The Hartland, Wis. native is now the second Badger to hit 10 or more HRs this year, joining her teammate in Hilary Blomberg (14). Showalter is just the second freshman in program history to hit 10 or more HRs in their first season, accompanying Chloe Miller (2014) who barreled 12.
- Emily Bojan set a career-high for hits in a game, putting together a 4-for-5 showing with a pair of runs scored.
- Hilary Blomberg finished 2-for-3 on the evening with an RBI and a run scored, good for her 51st career multi-hit game. 51 multi-hit games is tied for the eighth-most in program history with Boo Gillette (2002-05). Blomberg’s 20 multi-hit showings this year ranks her at No. 4 all-time for the most in a single season.
- Alivia Bark earned a 3-for-4 performance on Friday night, tallying two RBI in the sixth inning. The junior is tied in fourth for the most multi-RBI games in a single season at 13.
- Rylie Crane put together her first multi-hit performance of the year, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
- Jordan Felci recorded the first save of her career, closing out the series opener in the seventh.
Up Next: The Badgers and the Scarlet Knights will take on game two of the series Saturday afternoon, as first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT at Goodman Diamond. The game will be streamed on B1G+.
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