Wisconsin's softball team made history at the 2026 Big Ten tournament despite not winning, achieving eight significant milestones. The Badgers recorded their first-ever walk-off win in the tournament against Purdue.
Key points
Wisconsin Badgers reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Big Ten tournament
The team recorded eight historical milestones during the tournament
Wisconsin's last Big Ten tournament win was in 2013
The Badgers lost to UCLA, who scored 19 runs in the semi-finals
The walk-off win against Purdue was the first in program history
Wisconsin BadgersUCLABig Ten softball tournament 2026
While the Wisconsin Badgers failed to win their first Big Ten tournament since 2013, this softball program has much to be proud of.
As the lowest remaining seed, No. 3 may have humbled the No. 7 Badgersin the semi-finals, but Wisconsin made history in more ways than one.
Ultimately, this is a season Yvette Healy's roster won't soon forget. When their tournament run came to an end in five innings thanks to a UCLA squad that put up 19 runs, Wisconsin can still hang their heads high knowing eight huge milestones were hit this tournament.
1. Walk-off vs. Purdue was first in program history during Big Ten Tournament
The moment Hannah Conger walked it off to advance @BadgerSoftball to the Quarterfinals 🎬
The Badgers put up 4️⃣ runs in the final two innings to pull off the comeback 🦡 pic.twitter.com/gHx57DAUFy
While it's hard to believe, sophomore Hannah Conger gave the Badgers their first walk-off win in conference tournament history.
2. Three-run comeback vs. Purdue is tied for the largest in program history
Keep in mind, all of these statistics are solely related to the Big Ten tournament. A three-run deficit in the conference tournament is no joke, and Wisconsin has to go back to 2014 when they replicated that result against Nebraska.
3. Hilary Blomberg tied Kayla Konwet's program home run record
Hilary "BOMB-berg" tied the school record with her 15th home run of the season on Thursday.
Q&A
What historical milestones did Wisconsin achieve in the 2026 Big Ten softball tournament?
Wisconsin achieved eight significant milestones during the tournament, including their first-ever walk-off win.
Who did Wisconsin lose to in the 2026 Big Ten softball tournament semi-finals?
Wisconsin lost to UCLA in the semi-finals, where UCLA scored 19 runs.
When was Wisconsin's last Big Ten tournament win before 2026?
Wisconsin last won the Big Ten tournament in 2013.
What was the significance of the walk-off win against Purdue for Wisconsin's softball program?
The walk-off win against Purdue was the first in program history during the Big Ten tournament, marking a significant achievement for the team.
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Blomberg went yard for the 15th time this tournament, which tied Konwet's single-season record that was set back in 2019.
4. Kaylie Whidden sets career high in hits
A three-hit game might not seem like the biggest achievement in the world to some players, but to Whidden it was a career high she set in the quarter-finals against Oregon.
5. Jaclyn Showalter's freshman home run record
Jaclyn Showalter smashed her 13th home run of the season on Thursday, breaking the @BadgerSoftball freshman record
The Hartland, Wis. native surpassed Chloe Miller's (2014) record of 12@JaclynShowalter's 13 HRs also rank 4th in UW single-season history overall pic.twitter.com/xOMTVdPfEM
While Blomberg leads the team with 15 home runs, Showalter was the only other player to reach double-digits (13). With that number, she surpassed Chloe Miller's mark from 2014.
6. First-ranked win since 2024
Not only were the Ducks the No. 2 team in the conference tournament, but they were ranked No. 11 nationally. It's been a few years since the Badgers have knocked off a ranked opponent, and it's worth noting this is their highest-ranked opponent victory since they took down No. 9 Alabama in 2023.
7. Most runs ever scored in a Big Ten tournament game
Sure, Wisconsin beat Oregon, but they did so by putting up 11 runs, which is the most they've ever scored in a conference tournament game. That win gets more and more impressive, which is a huge deal, knowing the selection show is right around the corner.
8. First ever win vs. Oregon
It may be hard to believe, but coming into the quarter-finals, Wisconsin was 0-10 and scored a combined 12 runs. Somehow, they put all of that behind them to score 11 and secure their first-ever win against the Ducks when the lights shone the brightest.
9. Hannah Conger and Jaclyn Showalter's home run milestone
There are only four players in program history to hit two or more home runs in the Big Ten Tournament. Shockingly, half of that list is comprised of players who did so this season. Conger and Showalter join Taylor Johnson (2019) and Hilary Blomberg (2024) in the record books.
