Conger walks-off game one of NCAA Tournament

Friday, May 15

Austin, TX

12:30 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

33-19

Baylor

28-27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Baylor	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	2
Wisconsin	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	5	0

Photo by: Maddox Durst

Conger walks-off game one of NCAA Tournament

May 15, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)NCAA Central

UW defeats Baylor in extra innings

By: Maddox Durst

AUSTIN, Texas - The Wisconsin softball team battled through nine innings to open the weekend in the Austin Regional, as sophomore Hannah Conger earned her third walk-off of the season to secure a 2-1 victory over Baylor.

In the ninth, junior Alivia Bark got things started with a leadoff walk. Senior Rylie Crane laid down a quality sacrifice bunt, followed up by a single up the middle from junior Danielle Lucey to put runners on first and third.

Conger then stepped up and delivered, launching a line drive to the opposite field to put the Badgers (33-19) at 1-0 in the NCAA Tournament.

🔼 9th | THAT'S YOUR GAME-WINNER!! @HannahConger16's THIRD WALK-OFF OF THE YEAR! 😆 pic.twitter.com/JtSJJPNJPo
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) May 15, 2026

The Bears (28-27) stifled UW's offense throughout the early portion of Friday's game, as the match remained scoreless through five innings of play. Senior Shelby Jacobson escaped numerous jams on the defensive end, tossing all nine innings to earn her first career NCAA Tournament win.

In the sixth, sophomore Kendra Lewis began the frame with a leadoff walk. Sophomore Kaylie Whidden followed it up with a bunt, taking advantage of a throwing error from the Bears to advance to third. Unfortunately for the Badgers, the shutout remained intact, as freshman Ava Parent was thrown out at home plate.

Junior Alivia Bark came up clutch, dropping down a squeeze bunt to drive in pinch runner Claire Calmes and put UW up 1-0.

Baylor responded with back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh to tie the game, forcing extra innings after the Badgers went down in order in the bottom half of the frame.

Jacobson continued to keep the Bears' silent on the offensive end in extra innings—giving the Badgers a chance to win it.

After a quick eighth inning, UW broke through with Conger's base hit—advancing to Saturday with a 1-0 record.

Made for the moment. @HannahConger16 walks it off for the Badgers for her third time this season! pic.twitter.com/VoRK0NnJdk
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) May 15, 2026

Batting Cleanup:

The Badgers are now 14-18 in the NCAA Tournament after Friday's victory.
Wisconsin improved to 2-2 in extra innings in NCAA Tournament history.
UW defeated a Big 12 team for the second time in the NCAA Tournament, last doing so in the 2019 season when they took down No. 1 Oklahoma in the Norman Regional.
Wisconsin earned its first win in the NCAA Tournament since the 2022 season, when the program defeated Georgia Tech, 7-6, to advance to the Gainesville Regional Final.
UW improved to 3-0 over Baylor in program history, each of which have been 2-1 victories. Two of those games have finished in nine innings.
Hannah Conger racked up her third walk-off of the season and her second in as many weekends—finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. The sophomore earned a walk-off base hit last weekend against Purdue, and did so versus St. Thomas earlier in the season.
Alivia Bark tallied UW's other RBI against Baylor, executing a safety squeeze to plate Wisconsin's first run of the game.
Shelby Jacobson tallied her 13th complete game of the year, tossing all nine innings while working around one run and five hits. The senior went on to earn her 15th victory of the season, entering 2026 with only six under her belt in her career.

Up Next: The Badgers are now slated to play at 12:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 15, from Red & Charline McCombs Field in the Winner's Bracket. UW will await the winner of No. 1 Texas and Wagner. The TV assignment is still to be determined.