The University of Wisconsin softball team (27-21, 9-9 Big Ten) will complete its home schedule Wednesday against University of Illinois-Chicago (35-23, 11-4 Horizon) at 5 p.m. at Goodman Diamond in what will be the last home game for six UW seniors — Boo Gillette, Katie Layne, Kris Zacher, Natalie Phillips, Meghann Reiss and Anastasia Miller. The Badgers will attempt to avenge their 5-4 loss to the Flames earlier this season (April 6 in Chicago).

“I felt like we had the game in hand and then … kinda let the game slip away,” UW head coach Karen Gallagher said of the first matchup.

In one of the more frustrating games of the season, Wisconsin saw its 4-2 lead evaporate despite posting a then-season-high 12 hits. However, the Badgers stranded 11 base runners over the course of the game. The loss came amid Wisconsin’s midseason funk, where it had lost eight of nine games. Wisconsin has since rebounded and is currently on a tear, having claimed victory in 14 of its last 16 contests.

The Flames are currently on top of the standings in the Horizon League, one game above Wisconsin-Green Bay, and look poised to make a run for a seventh conference title this season, after winning six of the past seven. Despite hailing from a smaller conference, the Flames have been more than competitive with Wisconsin, currently leading the all-time series 4-2 over UW.

If Wisconsin is going to have any more success against UIC this time around, it will have to keep the Flames in the ballpark, as they hit three homeruns against the Badgers in the previous matchup.

Illinois-Chicago is a very dangerous offensive team, with seven players posting 20-plus RBI and the top five batters all hitting above .300. The ringleader of the Flames’ offense is Cameron Astiazaran, a senior outfielder who has had a season to remember so far. Her .483 batting average is fourth best in the nation, while she is the NCAA doubles leader with 24. Astiazaran is also the team leader in every offensive category, leading the Flames with 14 homeruns and 46 RBI.

Illinois-Chicago’s pitching has not been nearly as successful, however, as the Flames have a team ERA of 3.58, compared to Wisconsin’s 2.72 team ERA.

Wisconsin will likely see either junior Brittany McIntyre or freshman Mercedes Lovato start. McIntyre is 17-12 with a 3.35 ERA, while Lovato has a record of 16-9 and an ERA of 3.69. Both pitched in the earlier meeting between the two teams, with Lovato getting the starting nod and receiving a shelling from Wisconsin. Lovato gave up four runs on nine hits in four innings pitched before giving way to McIntyre, who only allowed three hits and no runs in her three innings of work, earning the win. Both pitchers have been susceptible to giving up the long ball this season, as the Flames have allowed opponents to hit 39 homeruns this season, a good omen for Wisconsin, who set a school record with five homeruns in Tuesday’s second win over Valparaiso.

For the Badger seniors, the last home game of their careers will be reason enough to come out firing against Illinois-Chicago.

“I don’t think anything can prepare you for that moment, your last home game of your senior year,” Phillips said. “It’s going to be emotional, and I’m sure it is going to be the same way with my five other fellow seniors. We’ll be playing for each other. We always do, but it will be that euphoric feeling with it. These are our memories right here.”

Gallagher, like her seniors, is looking toward Wednesday’s game with optimism and expects her team to play well, regardless of what sentimental significance the game might have.

“We are just focused on getting done what we have to do on the field,” Gallagher said. “[Wednesday] should be a great day to play, and we look forward to ending out our home season with a win.”