FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Wisconsin softball team got off to a hot start in the first game of the 2017 FGCU/Four Points Softball Invitational at Florida Gulf Coast University. The Badgers (9-2 overall) took down Florida International University (9-4) with a 5-0 shutout but fell later in the day to Boston College (8-3), 4-1.

Senior Kirsten Stevens led the Badgers to their third shutout of the season and her third win of the year.

Sophomore Stephanie Lombardo got the Badgers off on the right foot with a double to right center that scored Jordan Little who was on base from a walk in the bottom of the second.

However, it was the third inning when the Badgers exploded on the field. Junior Kelsey Jenkins led off with a single that was followed up immediately by a double from senior Chloe Miller. With runners on second and third and just one out, Sara Novak laid down the perfect bunt that pulled Jenkins home. A sacrifice fly from junior Brooke Wyderski sealed the deal on the two-run inning that put UW ahead 3-0.

Wisconsin extended its lead once again in the bottom of the fifth when freshman Kayla Konwent found her spark with a two-RBI single that clinched the 5-0 final decision for the Badgers.

UW staged a late comeback in the fifth inning with Boston College in the second game of the day and cut the Eagles' lead to 2-1 when senior Sara Novak ripped an RBI single that scored Brianna Flugaur. However, Boston College added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to give them the 4-1 advantage.

NOTES TO KNOW
-Junior Brooke Wyderski hit the third sacrifice fly of the season against FIU.
-FIU tied Badger opponents' season high for hit by pitch, hitting two Badger batters.
-Six players tallied one hit apiece against the Panthers.
- Kelsey Jenkins and Chloe Miller each scored two runs against FIU. Kayla Konwent led UW with two RBI.
- Freshman Jordan Little tied the team's season high with two walks.
-The Badgers suffered their second loss of the season to Boston College.
-UW is now 2-2 in second games in a day in tournament play.
- Wisconsin committed a season-high four errors against the Eagles.
-UW was outhit 8-5 by Boston College

TALK FROM THE DUGOUT:
"It was a good start to the tournament. For Kirsten to go the distance, to get a shutout win against FIU, who's receiving votes, is a big win for the program. Especially with them, it's almost like a home game for FIU. They're a very good team and to have to face them in Florida, opening game bright and early, I was really proud of how we came out of the box there.
"Boston College is very good. They didn't beat Arizona State for no reason. We knew we would have to play well, and we didn't. I think that's what you need early on. If you don't play well you shouldn't be rewarded with the win. With four errors, it's hard to beat anyone, let alone a team with that many wins. I think we just readjust and go back to one game at a time. I'm really proud of the fight at the end, the fact that we had the chance to have the tying run come to the plate in the seventh against a team like that. It's important and we got to see some fight from our team."
-Head Coach Yvette Healy

UP NEXT:
The Badgers continue their success at FGCU softball complex with a pair of games on Saturday, Feb. 25. Wisconsin first faces tournament host Florida Gulf Coast at 12:30 p.m. CT before facing Hofstra for the second time in two weekends. UW narrowly beat Hofstra 7-5 last weekend in Clearwater.