The Wisconsin Badgers dominated their home opening series, sweeping the Maryland Terrapins over three games at Goodman Diamond March 27-29.
Junior Hillary Blomberg proved instrumental to Wisconsin’s successful weekend, going six-for-eight on the weekend with three home runs, which earned her Big Ten Player of the Week.
The Terrapins got on the board quickly in the first game, going up 1-0 in the first inning. Wisconsin's offense started off slow, but they were able to get the bats going in the third inning. A sacrifice bunt from Emily Bojan put two runners in scoring position for Blomberg who was able to bring them in, hitting the first Goodman Diamond home run of the season and taking the lead 3-1.
Jaclyn Showalter kept the Badgers’ offense rolling in the fourth inning with a solo home run to right field to extend Wisconsin’s lead to 4-1.
A double from Bailey Murphy helped Maryland get going offensively in the fifth inning, and RBIs from Sammi Woods and Matti Benson narrowed Wisconsin’s lead to 4-3.
After a pitching change, Maryland relief pitcher Elisea Wiegand shut down Wisconsin’s bats in the fifth and sixth inning. This set the stage for the Terrapins to pounce, as a seventh inning double from Mariah Penta tied the score, and a sacrifice fly from Anna McGowan gave the Terrapins a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
With their backs against the wall, Hannah Conger led off the bottom of the seventh inning for the Badgers with a single, which was followed by another single from Bojon. Blomberg continued the rally with a game-tying single which moved Bojon to third base. Alivia Bark, with a ground ball to first base, walked off the game for the Badgers, as Bojon hustled home for the 6-5 win.
Wisconsin carried their energy over into the second game and quickly went up 1-0 in the first inning off an RBI single from Makenzie Foster.
Foster brought in another run in the third inning with a single to right field, extending the Badgers lead to 2-0.
The Badgers got an insurance run in the sixth, as Conger led off the inning with a double to right field before scoring on an error when she stole third base. She was then able to score after forcing a throwing error when stealing third base.
Maryland got their bats going in the seventh to give the Badgers a scare but it was not enough as Murphy grounded out to third with two runners on base to end the game,
Wisconsin took the shutout win 3-0.
In the final game of the series, the Badgers once again came out swinging, batting through the lineup for six runs in the first inning.
Blomberg continued her tear in the second inning with a lead-off home run to left field to extend Wisconsin’s lead 7-0.
The Terrapins got on the board in the fifth inning, with a three-run home run from Penta.
The Badgers responded quickly in the fifth inning as Addison Wery brought in two runs with a home run to left field.
Blomberg then ended the game early with a three-run homer, the 30th home run of her illustrious career to take the win 12-3.
