IOWA CITY, Iowa. – The Wisconsin softball team (21-30, 8-15) advanced to the Big Ten Semifinal game for the first time since 2019 after defeating No. 3 Rutgers 7-3. Wisconsin’s Hilary Blomberg provided a record 5-RBI to support Tessa Magnanimio’s complete game. The Badgers become the first No. 11 seed to make it to a semifinal game and will take on No. 2 Michigan tomorrow at 6:30 PM CT.
How it Happened:
Wisconsin’s offense struck early in the game. A Fiona Girardot walk, followed by a Danielle Lucey steal of second, set up freshman Hilary Blomberg in the top of the first. Blomberg singled up the middle to score Lucey, giving the Badgers the first lead of the game.
Scoring halted from there, with starter Tessa Magnanimo dueling Rutger’s Mattie Boyd for four innings. Magnanimo was coming off a complete game one-run performance in yesterday’s game, but finally faltered during the bottom of the fourth inning. Rutgers knocked a lead off triple to begin the frame, allowing a groundout to score the runner during the next at-bat.
The game did not remain tied for long. Alivia Bark and Skylar Sirdashney worked themselves on base to begin the top of the fifth. The Badgers then capitalized on a couple of Scarlet Knight errors. The first allowed Ava Kuszak to reach base, with Hubbard’s pinch runner, Paige Miller, scoring on the play. Kuszak then attempted to steal second base, the catcher’s throw escaped into center field, allowing Sirdashney to score. The inning capped off with Blomberg launching a two-run home run, her second straight game with a long ball. The Badgers finished the inning up…
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