Shelby Jacobson Blanks Gophers as Wisconsin Wins 4-0 for Yvette Healy's 600th Career Victory

MINNEAPOLIS — Wisconsin did not need much offense on Friday night. It needed Shelby Jacobson. The senior threw a four-hit complete-game shutout, Emily Bojan added a two-run double in the seventh, and the Badgers beat Minnesota 4-0 in the opener of a three-game Big Ten series at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.

The win was also a milestone for Wisconsin head coach Yvette Healy, who earned the 600th victory of her college coaching career in her 22nd season between Loyola Chicago and Wisconsin, according to the Badgers. Wisconsin improved to 26-17 overall and 10-9 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota fell to 15-31 in front of a crowd of 895.

Two Unearned Runs

The game was decided as much by Minnesota's defense as by Wisconsin's bats. Both of the Badgers' early runs were unearned, according to the official box score. In the second inning, Kaylie Whidden reached on an error by the shortstop, and Alivia Bark scored to make it 1-0. In the third, Kendra Lewis reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Ava Parent to score for a 2-0 lead.

That was all the support Jacobson needed. Minnesota's best scoring chance came in the first inning, when Tara Wolocko reached third with two outs, according to the Gophers' recap. Minnesota never got another runner that far. The Gophers finished 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and committed three errors in the field, while Wisconsin played the game without one.

Schwartz Keeps It Close

Minnesota starter Sydney Schwartz deserved better. The right-hander went the full seven innings, allowing four runs, only two of them earned, on five hits. She walked one and struck out seven, and Gophers pitching held Wisconsin to 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, according to Minnesota's game notes.

Schwartz also did her part at the plate, going 1-for-2 to lead the Minnesota offense. She took the loss and fell to 10-14 on the season.

Minnesota's staff faced 29 Wisconsin hitters and induced eight ground balls and five fly balls to go with the seven strikeouts, according to the Gophers. Neither team scored from the fourth inning through the sixth, and the game moved quickly, finishing in 1 hour, 38 minutes, per the box score.

The problem for Minnesota was at the plate. The Gophers managed only four hits against Jacobson, and with no runner reaching third after the first inning, the two unearned runs looked bigger with every passing frame.

Bojan Breaks It Open

Wisconsin finally pulled away in the top of the seventh. According to the Badgers' recap, Hannah Conger reached on a fielder's choice with pinch runner Makenzie Foster getting to third on a Minnesota error. With Bojan at the plate, Conger stole second to put two runners in scoring position.

Bojan, a junior from Chicago, made it count. She drove a double to left-center that brought home both runners and stretched the lead to 4-0. The Badgers said it was her eighth multi-RBI game of the season.

Jacobson finished it off in the bottom of the seventh. She struck out five, walked one and allowed four hits for her 11th win of the year, improving to 11-8. Wisconsin said it was her third complete-game shutout of the season and her second in conference play, as well as the Badgers' seventh shutout of the year and third in Big Ten games.

Blomberg Adds Another Multi-Hit Game

Hilary Blomberg went 2-for-4 for Wisconsin, her 18th multi-hit game of the season, according to the Badgers. The junior also had 18 multi-hit games last year, and her career total of 49 ties Julie Borchard (1996-99) for ninth in program history.

Healy's 600th win came in a rivalry that has been tight over time. Wisconsin's series preview noted that Minnesota held a 33-28 edge in the all-time series entering the weekend, and that the Badgers had taken last season's three-game set in Madison.

What's Next

The series continues Saturday at 1 p.m. CT at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, and wraps up with a noon start on Sunday. Both games stream on B1G+.

For Minnesota, the path to evening the series runs through its own glove work and an offense that has to find a way to get runners to third. For Wisconsin, Friday was the kind of night that wins a series: a senior ace in control, a clutch hit late, and a coach adding a round number to her career total.

Photo Credit: Ariana Golemis/Undrafted