Day 3 Big Ten Softball Tournament results, Championship Game set

Day 3 of the 2024 Big Ten Softball Tournament concluded on Friday and fans were treated to the two excellent semifinal matchups. The first game of the day was between No. 4 seed Nebraska and No. 8 seed Indiana. The Cornhuskers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after two innings. Slugger Billie Andrews launched a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning, to put Nebraska up 1-0. She broke the 0-0 tie after she launched one into the trees in Iowa City. Ava Bredwell also launched a solo home run over the center field wall. That made the score 2-0 Huskers in the bottom of the second inning.

Even though Indiana battled back to put two runs on the scoreboard, Nebraska was still up 3-2 into the top of the seventh, looking like they’d be punching their tickets to Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game. That’s when Indiana decided to turn it on when they needed it the most. Indiana’s Alex Cooper popped up a foul ball to the left side of the field, but Nebraska couldn’t reel it in. And boy did she make the most of her second chance. She knocked a solo shot out of the park to tie the game at 3-3, eventually sending it to extra innings.

That’s when the Hoosiers took control, thanks in large part to a three-run blast by Brianna Copeland. They scored six runs total in the eight, pushing their lead to 9-3. Nebraska’s Peyton Cody drilled a two-run blast in the eighth inning to make it 9-5, and that would be the final score as the Hoosiers advanced to the Big Ten Championship.

The No. 2 seed Michigan Wolverines took down the No. 11 seed Wisconsin Badgers in the second game on Friday. With Michigan just up 3-2, Wolverines’ slugger Keke Tholl blasted a three-run shot to make the score 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The pivotal home run was her 15th of the season. Wisconsin’s Hilary Blomberg got the scoring started for the Badgers in the first inning, drilling a two-run blast. It marked her third home run in three straight games. Wisconsin made it interesting in the final inning, cutting the Michigan lead to 6-4, before their final batter was retired.

The Wolverines will move on to face Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday.

For more results and the schedule of the 2024 Big Ten Tournament, check that out below.

2024 Big Ten Tournament bracket, schedule

1st Round–Wednesday, May 8

Game 1: No. 8 Indiana 6, No. 9 Purdue 3

Game 2: No. 5 Minnesota 10, No. 12 Illinois 7

Game 3: No. 7 Penn State 1, No. 10 Maryland 3

Game 4: No. 6 Ohio State 1, No. 11 Wisconsin 5

Quarterfinals–Thursday, May 9th

Game 5: No. 1 Northwestern 3, No. 8 Indiana 4

Game 6: No. 4 Nebraska 11, No. 5 Minnesota 2 (5 innings)

Game 7: No. 2 Michigan 10, No. 10 Maryland 0

Game 8: No. 3 Rutgers 3, No. 11 Wisconsin 7

Semifinals–Friday, May 10th

Game 9: No. 8 Indiana 9, No. 4 Nebraska 5

Game 10: No. 2 Michigan 6, No. 11 Wisconsin 4

Championship–Saturday, May 11th

Game 11: No. 8 Indiana vs. No. 2 Michigan–3:00 PM on BTN

Please note–all television times listed are Central Standard Time and are subject to change.

Big Ten Network Games are also available on the FOX Sports app. For more information, please visit the Big Ten Tournament website here.