After shutting out Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, the Wisconsin Badgers went toe to toe with the top-seeded Northwestern Wildcats on Thursday in the quarterfinals but came up short, losing 5-2 after a late rally.
The Badgers found themselves in an early hole after giving up three runs in the first two innings. In the top of the third, Wisconsin loaded the bases after Ally Miklesh singled and then Kayla Konwent and Fiona Girardot were plunked in back-to-back at bats but couldn’t get a run in.