Wisconsin Upsets Oregon In Historic Game In Big Ten Tournament

The No. 2-seeded Oregon Ducks opened up the Big Ten Tournament against the No. 7- seeded Wisconsin Badgers in College Park, Maryland, on Thursday. The Ducks are the No. 2 seed in the tournament, earning a bye to the quarterfinals after an impressive regular season in which they finished at 40-11 overall and went 20-4 in Big Ten play. 

For the second consecutive season, Oregon fell in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, losing 10-8 to Wisconsin in an impressive offensive showing. It was Oregon softball's first-ever loss to the Badgers as a program. The Ducks were 10-0 against the Badgers entering the tournament.

Wisconsin's four home runs in the game were scored by Hilary Blomberg, Jacyln Showalter, Emily Bojan, and Hannah Conger, who lifted the Badgers over the Ducks, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.

Oregon also recorded three home runs of its own, two of which came from sophomore infielder Stefini Ma'ake. Senior utility player Elon Butler also recorded a home run to help the Ducks rally from an early 4-0 deficit.

It was a game filled with several momentum swings between Oregon and Wisconsin, which included multiple lead changes. The dominant pitching of the freshman pitcher Berritt Herr in the fifth and seventh innings played a crucial role in the Badgers' upset victory.

With the Ducks knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament early again, Oregon now awaits its selection in the NCAA Tournament. Despite losing in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, Oregon still has the potential to make a run at its second consecutive appearance in the Women's College World Series. The NCAA Division I Softball Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN 2.

Here's a full summary of Oregon's stunning loss to Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

FINAL: Wisconsin 11, Ducks 9

Bottom of Seventh Inning | Badgers 11, Ducks 9

Stefini Ma'ake records her second home run of the game to keep the Ducks' hopes alive in the bottom of the seventh.

Top of the Seventh Inning | Badgers 11, Ducks 8

-Wisconsin extends lead to three with Kendra Lewis' RBI single with two outs.

-Hannah Conger extends Wisconsin's lead to 10-8 in the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run and the Badgers' fourth of the game.

Bottom of Sixth Inning | Badgers 9, Ducks 8

-Oregon with another hitless inning as Wisconsin freshman pitcher Berritt Herr is shutting down the Ducks with two strikeouts.

Top of Sixth Inning | Badgers 9, Ducks 8

-Wisconsin takes the lead as Alivia Bark flys out to center. Kendra Lewis scored for the Badgers.

-Lyndsey Grein back on the mound for Oregon.

Bottom of Fifth Inning | Ducks 8, Badgers 8

-Wisconsin with an impressive defensive showing in the bottom of the fifth inning, holding the Ducks to no hits.

Top of Fifth Inning | Ducks 8, Badgers 8

-Wisconsin strands two runners on first and second to end the top of the fifth inning.

-Hannah Conger's RBI single ties the game back up at eight as the Badgers return to the top of their lineup.

Bottom of Fourth Inning | Ducks 8, Badgers 7

-Stefini Ma'Ake flies out to center field and the Ducks reclaim the lead as Elon Butler scores.

-Amari Harper hits RBI single to right field that bounces off the wall. Katie Flannery and Taryn Ho score for the Ducks.

-Taryn Ho records lead off single for Oregon to star the bottom of the fourth.

Top of Fourth Inning | Badgers 7, Ducks 5

-Taylor Spencer now in as pitcher for the Ducks. Sokolsky finishes three innings pitched giving up three runs and recording one strikeout.

-Emily Bojan records Wisconsin's third home run of the game to lead off the top of the fourth inning.

Bottom of Third Inning | Badgers 6, Ducks 5

-Oregon records no hits in the bottom of the third inning.

Top of Third Inning | Badgers 6, Ducks 5

-Wisconsin re-takes the lead as Addison Wery hits an RBI single, Kendra Lewis scores.

-Jacyln Showalter solo home run to left center ties the game for the Badgers.

Bottom of Second Inning | Ducks 5, Badgers 4

-Emma Cox gives Oregon their first lead of the game with an RBI double, Harper scores.

-Amari Harper records two out double to center.

-Elon Butler ties the game at four with a solo home run to right center.

Top of Second Inning | Badgers 4, Ducks 3

-Badgers record no hits in the top of the second inning.

Bottom of the First Inning | Badgers 4, Ducks 3

-Stefini Ma'Ake records three-run home run to left center, Emma Cox and Elon Butler score.

-Junior right handed pitcher Shelby Jacobson in at pitcher for Badgers.

Top of the First Inning | Badgers 4, Ducks 0

-Elise Sokolsky the new pitcher on the mound for the Ducks.

-Grien exits the game at pitcher for the Ducks.

-Outfielder Danielle Lucey drives in Whidden for the Badgers' fourth run of the inning with an RBI fly out.

-Wisconsin infielder Kaylie Whidden delivers and RBI triple driving in two more Badger runs.

-Wisconsin catcher Hilary Blomberg hits a solo home run as the Badgers strike first.

-Lyndsey Grein in at pitcher for the Ducks.

-The Badgers bat first.

PREVIEW

The Badgers, the No. 7 seed in the tournament, defeated the No. 10-seeded Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday with a 4-3 win on a walk-off single by sophomore infielder Hannah Conger. The Badgers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Boilermakers. During the regular season, the Badgers and Ducks did not face each other, as Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup will be their first meeting of the year.

The Badgers finished with a 31-16 overall record in the regular season, including going 14-10 in Big Ten play. In addition to Conger, a player to watch for the Badgers as they aim to upset the Ducks is junior catcher and third baseman Hilary Blomberg, who leads the team with 14 home runs this season.     

The Ducks enter the tournament winners of four of their last six games, including series wins over the UCLA Bruins and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Oregon was the No. 1 seed in last year’s tournament after winning the Big Ten regular-season title and is hoping for a stronger showing this time around and to make a run at the title. 

The Ducks fell to the Michigan Wolverines, getting shut out 5-0 in the quarterfinals. That Wolverines squad went on a remarkable run as the No. 8 seed, winning the tournament by beating the Bruins in the title game.  

Ahead of Thursday’s quarterfinal matchups against the Badgers, players to watch for the Ducks include senior utility players Elon Butler and Amari Harper, who were the top leaders for Oregon during the regular season. 

Butler and Harper were among the Ducks' home run leaders during the regular season. Butler led the Ducks with 17 home runs, while Harper had 15. Butler and Harper both played a critical role in the Ducks winning 40-plus games for the second consecutive season.

The Ducks aim to return to the NCAA Women's College World Series, where they went 1-2, with a win over the Ole Miss Rebels and losses to the UCLA Bruins and Oklahoma Sooners.

How to Watch

Oregon is scheduled to take on Wisconsin on Thursday, with first pitch from Maryland Softball Stadium in College Park at 2 p.m. PT. The game broadcast is on the Big Ten Network.

The Ducks are fresh off a road series win over the UCLA Bruins, who they could potentially play in the semifinals. The Bruins are the No. 2 seed in the tournament and face the No. 11-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions in their quarterfinal matchup set to start following Oregon’s matchup.

In the three-game road series against the Bruins, Oregon earned two impressive victories to open before dropping the third game 11-3.  

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