2019: Started in 49 of 56 appearances in first season at Wisconsin … recorded 40 hits, five doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBI … recorded a 1-0 record in six pitching appearances, allowing only one earned run in 10.2 innings pitched … laid down bunt to score a run on squeeze play that helped beat number one ranked Oklahoma in NCAA Regional (5/19) … recorded seven multi-hit and multi-RBI games … had a 10-game hit streak … ranked third on the team in on-base percentage and hits
Caroline Hedgcock, a standout left-handed pitcher for Arkansas will join the Wisconsin softball team in the fall.
The junior will transfer after spending her first two seasons at Arkansas, seeing action in 12 games in 2018 and accumulating 13 strikeouts. As a freshman, she earned her first win in a series-clinching game at No. 25 Missouri in which she struck out two and didn't allow a hit in 4.2 innings of relief. She followed with a complete-game win against Tulsa. Hedgcock made 25 appearances overall with eight starts and had three hits in 15 at-bats in 2017.
Hedgcock was a star for South High School in Downers Grove, Illinois and was ranked No. 26 by FloSoftball.
She was named the 2016 MaxPreps National Player of the Year after earning Gatorade State (Ill.) Player of the Year. During a standout senior campaign, she was 14-1 with a 0.96 ERA and 131 strikeouts. At the plate, she was as impressive with a .549 batting average to go along with 22 home runs, 69 RBIs and 59 runs scored.
Hedgcock finished her prep career with 62 wins in the circle. Offensively, she established school records with 37 career home runs and 185 runs driven in. Her 22 home runs in 2016 represent the third-highest total for a single season in Illinois prep history.
Head Coach Yvette Healy on Hedgcock:
"We are thrilled to add another Illinois Gatorade player of the year to the Badger softball family. Caroline is an outstanding power hitter and left handed pitcher from Gerry Quinn's Illinois Chill organization. She earned Gatorade player of the year honors her senior year, hitting more than 20 home runs for coach Ron Hvelka at Downers Grove South high school, before competing for Arkansas her freshman and sophomore years. Our Illinois players, including Brooke Wyderski, Taylor Johnson, Sara Novak, Katie Christner and Kirsten Stevens have thrived at Wisconsin, earning All-Region, and All- Big ten accolades. Caroline will follow in the footsteps of former Downer Grove South, mustang turned Badger softball standout, Marissa Mersch as our newest Midwesterner to join the squad. Caroline will reunite with Illinois Chill teammates Kayla Konwent and Stephanie Lombardo to add power and pop to the heart of our lineup."
