CLEARWATER, Fla. – In the same day that the Wisconsin softball team extended its best start in program history with lucky win No. 7, the Badgers were blanked by No. 14 James Madison after an extensive rain delay.

UW (7-1 overall) began the day by squeaking out a tight 3-2 victory over St. Joseph's (0-3) behind the pitching combo of Angela Morrow and Mariah Watts.

The Badgers won their first-ever meeting with the Hawks by taking control in the third and fourth innings.

It was a quick string of events after first baseman Stephanie Lombardo led off the third inning with a single. Junior Brianna Flugaur came in to pinch run for Lombardo and immediately stole second, but then was moved right over to third after a throwing error by the Hawks' catcher. Flugaur came home to score on the next play when SJU dealt a wild pitch that gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead.

Wisconsin wasn't done yet. Flugaur's fellow junior, Kelsey Jenkins, picked up on the momentum and smacked a single to right field and then stole second as senior Chloe Miller was up to bat. Miller eventually walked, but Jenkins was caught stealing soon after for the second out. With Miller in scoring position and two outs, junior Brooke Wyderski delivered a clutch double that scored Miller.

The Hawks answered back right away in the top of the fourth as Sarah Ostazewski hit a solo homer to come within one. Raelynn Genovese then tied it up 2-2 after doubling to left field and coming in on Stacey Mayer's single through the left side.

But the Badgers quickly took back control of the game with sophomore Melanie Cross leading off with a double down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth. The Badgers used freshman Heather Rudnicki's speed to their advantage as a pinch runner for Cross, who then came flying into home when Lombardo reached on a fielder's choice. That final run would prove to be all UW needed to lock up the 3-2 victory.

In the second game, freshman Kaitlyn Menz suffered the first loss of her career, falling to James Madison (6-1). The No. 14-ranked Dukes blanked Wisconsin, 4-0.

JMU took to the board quickly, putting up three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. It clinched its final run in the bottom of the fourth as Madyson Moran scored off of Odicci Alexander's RBI double. The Dukes finished with six hits to Wisconsin's one.

Notes to Know:
-The Badgers had their best start in program history with a 7-0 start.
-Wisconsin's seven-game win streak was just two shy of tying the third-most wins in a row by the program.
-The Badgers tied their season high with three doubles against St. Joseph's.
-Kelsey Jenkins had a season-best five assists for UW against St. Joseph's.
-The Badgers are now 1-1 against ranked teams this season after taking down No. 20 South Florida on Thursday night.
-Brianna Flugaur was responsible for Wisconsin's lone hit against JMU. It was her first hit of the season and the eighth of her career.
-Brooke Wyderski hit her first double as a Badger against St. Joseph's.
-The Dukes made it to the super regionals last season.
- JMU's only loss this season was to No. 17 Missouri.

Talk from the Dugout:
"It was a great learning experience for us matching up against one of the best pitchers in the country. It's great for our young pitchers to throw against ranked teams. I'm so proud of Mariah Watts for getting her first win of the season and proud of Kate (Menz) for settling in and throwing five great innings against JMU."
-Head coach Yvette Healy


Up Next:
The Badgers continue their run in the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Tournament at the Eddie C. Moore Complex with an 8:30 a.m. contest against Hofstra on Sunday.