No. 5 Huskers Softball Faces Tough Wisconsin Challenge

Nebraska looks to extend its Big Ten lead with a series win over the Badgers

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:05pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a softball game in motion, with sharp planes of navy, red, and yellow overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes softball matchup between the Huskers and Badgers, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the game.Madison Today

The No. 5 Nebraska Cornhuskers softball team heads to Madison, Wisconsin this weekend for a crucial Big Ten series against the Wisconsin Badgers. The Huskers, currently tied for first in the conference standings, will look to extend their lead with a series sweep of the Badgers, who sit in a four-way tie for fifth place. Nebraska boasts a dominant pitching staff led by Jordy Frahm and Alexis Jensen, while Wisconsin counters with a potent offense led by Hilary Blomberg. The series will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network and the B1G+ streaming platform, with Nate Rohr on the radio call for the Huskers.

Why it matters

This series against Wisconsin represents a key opportunity for the Huskers to solidify their position atop the Big Ten standings. A sweep would not only extend Nebraska's lead, but also provide a boost to their RPI and strength of schedule as they look to secure a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

The Huskers enter the weekend with a 2.12 team ERA and a 312-62 strikeout-to-walk ratio, led by the dominant duo of Frahm and Jensen. In contrast, Wisconsin's pitching staff has struggled with a 4.69 team ERA. At the plate, the Badgers boast a powerful lineup with a .328 batting average and .926 OPS, led by Blomberg's .408 average and 12 home runs. The Huskers, however, have an edge with a .327 team batting average and 1.002 OPS.

  • The series opener is on Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m. CST.
  • Game two is on Saturday, April 11 at 12 p.m. CST.
  • The series finale is on Sunday, April 12 at 12 p.m. CST.

The players

Jordy Frahm

The Huskers' ace pitcher who would be the number one starter at most programs.

Alexis Jensen

Nebraska's second starter who has eased the workload on Frahm, keeping her fresher for the stretch run.

Hilary Blomberg

Wisconsin's leading hitter with a .408 average, 12 home runs, and 40 RBIs.

Yvette Healy

Wisconsin's head coach, who is in her 16th season with the Badgers and has a career record of 595-493-2.

Will Bolt

Nebraska's head coach, who has led the Huskers to a strong start in his second season at the helm.

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What they’re saying

“A sweep here should still have a positive effect on strength of schedule and not cause a drop in RPI.”

— Andy Ketterson, Cornnation.com Writer

“Alexis Jensen is the #2 starter the Huskers were missing last season - and she would be the #1 at most programs in D1. More importantly, she eases the workload on Jordy Frahm (remember when she threw all 21 innings of last year's Super Regional?) keeping her fresher and thus more effective both in the circle and at the plate.”

— Andy Ketterson, Cornnation.com Writer

What’s next

The Huskers will look to build on their series win against the Badgers as they continue their push for a Big Ten title and a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their next series will be against the Iowa Hawkeyes on April 17-19.

The takeaway

This weekend's series against Wisconsin represents a crucial opportunity for the Huskers to solidify their position atop the Big Ten standings. With their dominant pitching staff and potent offense, Nebraska has the tools to sweep the Badgers and further strengthen their case for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.