Wisconsin softball could not keep up with the reigning national champions.
Texas – the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament – run-ruled the Badgers, 9-0, in six innings on May 16 in the Austin regional of the NCAA Tournament, easily sending UW to the consolation side of the double-elimination bracket.
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Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan took a no-hitter into the fifth inning until Alivia Bark’s single. The Badgers’ only other baserunner during Kavan’s five innings in the circle was on a walk in the first inning.
The Badgers did not have a runner in scoring position until the sixth inning, when Emily Bojan hit a double off Texas reliever Cambria Salmon.
The Longhorns, meanwhile, wasted no time in distancing themselves from the Badgers with their bats. They scored three runs in the first inning after back-to-back hits by Kayden Henry and Katie Stewart, a sacrifice fly by Viviana Martinez and a two-run home run by Reese Atwood.
Texas scored another two runs on a Henry double in the second inning, prompting the Badgers to pull UW ace Shelby Jacobson. One day after her complete-game win over Baylor, Jacobson gave up five earned runs against the Longhorns in 1 ⅓ innings pitched.
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Texas piled on with two more runs in the third inning in small-ball fashion after loading the bases, and completed the run-rule win with Henry’s two-run homer in the sixth inning – her third hit of the afternoon – off UW reliever Jordan Felci.
All three UW pitchers to face the Longhorns – Jacobson, Berritt Herr and then Felci – each gave up at least two runs against the host and SEC tournament champion.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin running back Nate Palmer (15) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin running back Nate Palmer (15) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin quarterback Carter Smith (5) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin quarterback Ryan Hopkins (10) and offensive lineman Evan Brown (64) are shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin running back Harrison Bortolotti (32) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin wide receivers Malachi Coleman (16) and Keeyshawn Tabuteau (14) are shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin wide receiver Keeyshawn Tabuteau (14) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin running back Bryan Jackson II (21) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin quarterback Danny O’Neil (18) and defensive back Matthew Traynor (13) shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin running back Abu Sama III (3) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin running back Bryan Jackson II (21) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin running back Abu Sama III (3) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin tight end Jackson McGohan (87) blocks Wisconsin safety Matt Jung (29) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph (1) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. \
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin tight end Grant Stec (85) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin quarterback Ryan Hopkins (10) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin quarterback Ryan Hopkins (10) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin quarterback Deuce Adams (8) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin quarterback Carter Smith (5) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin cornerback Javan Robinson (2) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin cornerback Javan Robinson (2) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive end Charles Perkins (30) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive lineman Djidjou Bah (90) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive lineman Arthur Scott III (96) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive lineman DeNigel Cooper (93) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive lineman Xavier Ukponu (94) s shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive lineman Jacob Anderson (95) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive lineman Nolan Vils (92) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive lineman Dillan Johnson (76) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin defensive lineman Russell Hammond IV (91) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Badgers spring football practice at Camp Randall Stadium
Wisconsin running back Nate Palmer (15) is shown during spring football practice Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
When, who will Wisconsin softball play next
The Badgers will look to keep their tournament run alive later today in a consolation game against the winner of the Baylor-Wagner game. (The winner of UW’s next game would then need to defeat Texas twice on May 17 to win the Austin regional.)
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UW defeated Baylor in the first round following Hannah Conger’s walk-off double in the ninth inning. Wagner is coming off a 9-1 loss against Texas. The first pitch of UW’s second game is expected to be at approximately 5 p.m., depending on the duration of the Baylor-Wagner game.
This story will be updated after Wisconsin’s second game against Baylor or Wagner.
Wisconsin softball player Hannah Conger hits a walk-off double in the ninth inning of the Badgers’ extra-inning win over Baylor on May 15 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Texas run-rules Wisconsin in NCAA softball tournament