Tampa, Fla. -- In the first day of the USF Under Armour Showcase in Tampa, Florida, the Wisconsin softball team fell in both contests against Kansas, 2-1, and University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 14-3.
 
In the first game of the day, Wisconsin (5-6) started off strong against Kansas (5-6). Ashley Van Zeeland singled to center field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Melanie Cross then knocked a shot to center for an RBI double which allowed Van Zeeland to score. The Jayhawks could not respond giving the Badgers a 1-0 advantage at the end of the first inning.
 
For the next two innings, the play was scoreless as neither team was able to get a hit.
 
In the bottom of the fourth frame, Kansas' leadoff batter hit a home run, tying the game 1-1. It was the Jayhawks' first hit of the game.
 
Wisconsin responded in the sixth inning when Chloe Miller hit a triple to left field, but it was not enough for the Badgers to score.
 
With Taylor-Paige Stewart in the circle, the Jayhawks then grounded out their next three batters in a row in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Badgers had one more hit off of a single from Kelly Welsh in the seventh inning, but UW could not make anything out of it, which allowed for Kansas to respond with a walkoff home run to win the game, 2-1.
 
Wisconsin outhit Kansas, 4-3, with Melanie Cross leading UW with one hit and one RBI. Stewart pitched six innings allowing for three hits and two runs.
 
The Badgers immediately turned around to take on University of Nevada-Las Vegas (8-4) in their second game of the day, which was ultimately cut short due to the mercy rule in the Rebels' favor.
 
UNLV started off the first inning with a batter advancing to first after being hit by the pitch. The Rebels then hit a home run, scoring two runs, to jump out to a quick 2-0 lead. Wisconsin had two hits by Kelsey Jenkins and Van Zeeland but they were unable to score.
 
The second inning was scoreless but the Rebels furthered their lead, 5-0, in the third inning after a home run allowed for three runners to score. The Badgers responded with Van Zeeland singled and reached third on a throwing error followed by Miller hitting a single for an RBI. The Badgers trailed 5-1 at the end of the three innings.
 
In the fourth inning, the Rebels were able to steal second base twice and ultimately scored one more run pushing their lead to 6-1.
 
UNLV hit two doubles following a hit by the pitch, allowing for the Rebels to score an additional two runs to run up the score 8-1 in the top of the sixth inning. With bases loaded, a walk and hit by pitch allowed for UNLV to score two more runs bringing the score to 10-1. A double followed by a single let the Rebels register four more runs to finish out the sixth inning, 14-1.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Gabby Scherle reached first base with a single before Macy Oswald hit a triple allowing for Scherle to score bringing the score to 14-2. With two outs on the board, Kelsey Jenkins blasted a single to left field, giving Oswald one last scoring opportunity for the Badgers, making the final score 14-3.
 
Wisconsin was out hit, 12-9, against UNLV with Jenkins leading UW with two hits and one RBI.
 
The Badgers had three pitchers throw against the Rebels. Both Kirsten Stevens and Mariah Watts pitched for 2.2 innings. Stevens allowed four hits and five runs while Watts allowed five hits and four runs. Angela Morrow was the third pitcher for Wisconsin, pitching 0.2 innings allowing for three hits and five runs.
 
The Badgers continue the USF Tournament tomorrow against University of South Florida at 10:30 a.m. (CT).