Badgers softball hosts Michigan

(UW ATHLETICS) – The Wisconsin softball team returns to Goodman Diamond this weekend to take on Michigan, continuing their nine-game homestand in the Badger State.

Due to potential inclement weather, the game scheduled has been changed to the Badgers (22-15, 7-8 B1G) and the Wolverines (27-15, 6-9 B1G) set to play a doubleheader Friday, April 17 with a first pitch beginning at 2 p.m. CT. Game two of the doubleheader will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first. The series finale is slated for Sunday at Noon as all three games will be streamed on B1G+. Fans who will be in attendance can check out some of the game promotions for the weekend, HERE. 

Michigan has won 13 consecutive games over Wisconsin, as the two teams will match up for the first time since the 2025 Big Ten Tournament, where the Wolverines pulled away with a 3-2 victory to eliminate the Badgers. UW has only defeated Michigan once at Goodman Diamond in 26 opportunities, earning a 1-0 victory in 11 innings back in the 2017 season. 

UW fell in three consecutive games to No. 7/5 Nebraska this past weekend, looking to bounce back with nine conference games to go. 

Sophomore Kaylie Whidden was a standout at the plate, providing Wisconsin’s lone home run of the weekend in the series finale. The Monument, Colorado, native blasted her first long ball of her collegiate career. 

In the circle, senior Shelby Jacobson has continued to take on a heavy workload, as she tossed 11.1 innings over this past weekend. In her last four conference appearances, the right-hander has racked up 22 strikeouts in comparison to 10 walks. Jacobson has tallied a team-best 10 wins on the year, as she previously had six in three years combined. 

As a team, Wisconsin enters the weekend with a rank of No. 39 in the NCAA Softball RPI in comparison to the Wolverines’ No. 35 mark. In the Big Ten standings, the Badgers are currently tied for eighth with Penn State. Only two games separate sixth place and 12th in the conference with three weeks left in the regular season. The Big Ten Tournament in early May welcomes the top-12 performers from conference play. 

Up Next: The Badgers will complete their homestand with a non-conference doubleheader against St. Thomas (MN) on Tuesday, April 21. Game one will begin at 2:00 p.m. CT, with the second set for 4:30 p.m. CT.