FULLERTON, Calif. – It may have been the Wisconsin softball team's first night game of the season but a pair of solo home runs from sophomore Kelsey Jenkins and junior Sara Novak lit up the sky and pushed Wisconsin past California State Fullerton, 3-2, in the opening game of the Judi Garman Classic. Wisconsin ultimately split in action, dropping the latter game of the night to No. 19 Arizona State, 4-1.

Jenkins got the action started right away in the top of the first inning when she knocked out her third home run of the season. The next two Wisconsin batters struck out swinging but UW had a 1-0 advantage off of Jenkins' solo shot after one inning.
 
The next two innings saw the Badgers go down in order in the top of the second and third frames but CSF wasn't seeing much production either. The Titans clinched one hit through both the second and third innings but senior Taylor-Paige Stewart forced them to leave one on base in both innings.
 
Jenkins led off the fourth inning with a walk but was ensued by back-to-back pop ups. With two outs and one runner on at second after Jenkins stole second, sophomore Samantha Arents pounded an RBI double to left center to score Jenkins and give the Badgers a 2-0 lead.
 
Stewart finished off the bottom of the fourth frame with consecutive strikeouts after allowing a leadoff double.
The Titans put themselves in gear in the bottom of the sixth inning putting up two runs, two hits and taking advantage of one Wisconsin error. After the lead batter reached on an infield miscue, the Titans hit back-to-back doubles to tie the score 2-2. Stewart got out of the inning with a foul out to third base and pop up to second base.
 
With the score knotted 2-2 and one out already in the top of the seventh inning, Wisconsin had limited chances to score again. And then junior Sara Novak stepped up to the plate to answer the call.
Novak hammered a solo home run over the center field wall to give Wisconsin the final run of the game and her biggest hit of the season. Novak, who missed last season due to injury, tallied her first home run and fifth hit of the season.
 
Novak's final point was all UW needed as the Badger defense retired the final Titan batters in order in the bottom of the seventh inning. It also marked the fourth time that the Badgers have had two home runs in a single game. Last season, UW only had two multiple home run games.
 
Stewart claimed her fifth win of the season, moving her to eighth all-time at Wisconsin with 33 career wins. She finished with five strikeouts and allowed three walks, five hits and two runs in 31 batters faced.
 
But it was Arizona State that started the scoring early in the Badgers' second game of the evening.
 
The Badgers got off to a slow start, only putting up one hit per inning in the first four frames. The Sun Devils, however, fired off two hits and three runs in the first inning alone.
 
Junior Kirsten Stevens, who took her fourth loss of the season in the contest, walked the leadoff batter who got called out on a fielder's choice but then allowed in a single to the shortstop. Stevens nearly got out of the inning after forcing a ground out to shortstop but the Sun Devils loaded the bases on another walk with two outs. 
 
Katee Aguirre reached on an error by Ashley Van Zeeland, allowing for two runs to come in. Margaret Stahm promptly followed with a bunt single to the pitcher for one final ASU run before the Badgers ended the inning with a groundout, leaving two Sun Devils on base.
 
Wisconsin had an opportunity to score in the top of the second inning with two runners on after Arents singled up the middle and Novak reached on an error but the next two Badgers went down swinging.
 
Arizona State capitalized on two hits in the fifth inning, taking a 4-0 lead off of six total hits. A leadoff single and RBI double in the bottom of the frame would be the Sun Devils' last hits of the game but all they needed to hold onto a 4-0 lead headed into the sixth inning.
 
The Badgers were able to stick one run on the board after an explosive sixth inning that saw three hits. Miller started the Badger bats swinging with a leadoff triple to center field, her second of the season and fourth of her career.
 
Freshman Melanie Cross sent a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Miller for the Badgers' lone run of the game. Novak and freshman Kelly Welsh fired off back-to-back singles but were eventually left stranded.
 
The runners left on base proved to be the difference in the game as Wisconsin left on nine while ASU stranded five in the 4-1 loss.
 
Wisconsin out-hit Arizona State 9-6 behind two hits apiece from Van Zeeland and Jenkins.
Stevens finished with five strikeouts, just one shy high of her season high, and allowed two walks, six hits and four runs.
Wisconsin continues action with a 2 p.m. (CT) contest against Oregon State and a 9:30 p.m. (CT) game against Fresno State.