CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 23 Wisconsin softball team opened Big Ten Conference play Friday evening with a bang, defeating Illinois 15-6 on its home field.
 
A six-run sixth inning highlighted the contest. The Badgers (22-3 overall, 1-0 B1G) carried a 5-3 lead into the inning, and immediately extended it to 6-3 when Kayla Konwent singled to score freshman Jolie Fish. After loading the bases, senior Stephanie Lombardo hit an absolute bomb way past the center field fence for a grand slam. Lauren Foster doubled to score one more run before the inning was over, giving UW a nine-point lead.
 
The Badgers came out hot scoring three runs in the first inning. Sophomore Taylor Johnson hit a double to get into scoring position. Junior Caroline Hedgcock joined her on the base path via a walk before a Lombardo single sent Johnson home. Both Hedgcock and Lombardo's pinch runner Gabby Scherle scored in the next at-bat thanks to a Kelly Welsh bunt and Illini error.
 
Johnson struck again in the second inning with a two-run homer to left field. Just in case fans missed Johnson's first home run, she blasted a second in the top of the fifth inning en route to a career-high four hits.
 
UW tallied three final runs in the top of the seventh inning behind four singles and two walks.
 
Junior Kaitlyn Menz earned the win in the circle after pitching five innings with four strikeouts and no earned runs.
 

Batting clean-up: Four notes to know

• Johnson tallied her fifth and sixth home runs of the season, and now has 14 career homers.
• The Badgers have now won four-straight games against Illinois and tonight's 15 runs is the most either team has scored in a game against one another.
• Lombardo's grand slam was the first by a Badger since Brooke Wyderski scored four against Purdue on April 21, 2018.
• The Badgers outhit the Illini 14-9.

 

On deck

The Badgers and Illini will face off for game two of the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m.