The Wisconsin softball team found themselves victim to the cold Wisconsin weather this weekend, with two games rescheduled due to weather-related issues. While the Badgers started off the weekend strong with a win, they would find themselves falling during the final two games of the series.

The Badgers (19-16-1, 4-4-1 Big Ten) welcomed the Purdue Boilermakers (23-17, 5-6 Big Ten) to Goodman Diamond Saturday and Sunday. The Badgers didn’t have a double-header planned for the weekend, but due to low temperatures, they would find themselves playing two back-to-back games on Saturday instead.

That didn’t faze the Badgers, however, who would go on to win the first game of the series. The Badgers managed to keep Purdue at bay, thanks to excellent pitching by both Kirsten Stevens and Taylor-Paige Stewart.

The Badgers, who have been getting notoriety as a team that manages to get a streak of hits in a single inning, surely did not let fans down this weekend. The Badgers would score five runs in a row during game one to pull away from Purdue, cementing their 9-5 win in place.

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The Badgers almost won game two with a similar hit-streak, but would come just one run shy of tying the Boilermakers at the bottom of the seventh inning, chalking up a 4-5 loss on the night.

It seems whenever the Badgers produce, they either produce big, earning five or six runs in a weekend, or they do not produce at all. While one might think this would be a nightmare for a head coach, Wisconsin head coach Yvette Healy knows the most important thing is that her team is getting runs.

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Healy said. “Would it be easier to do things a lot of different ways? Sure. It’d be easier to put more zeros up from pitching and defense and if the hitting [produced scoring opportunities] every weekend.

“I’m super proud of this team and the progress that they’ve made. I’ll take the big innings, I think they’re really fun and emotional.”

Big innings were not only a common theme on the weekend, but they had the knack of happening in the last two innings of the game. Unfortunately for the Badgers, Purdue also managed to hone in and produce some major scoring drives when needed.

The Badgers thought they would find themselves winners against Purdue during game three, until the Boilermakers would find themselves scoring three runs in the top of the seventh. On top of a major scoring drive, Purdue pitcher Lilly Fecho would shut the Badgers out during the final inning to finalize the Boilermakers’ 3-2 win.

Marking the final game at home in a two-week home stretch, the Badgers hit the road to face rival Minnesota. The border battle will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, weather permitting.