FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- For the fifth-straight weekend, the Wisconsin softball team opened up a tournament with a win, defeating Maine 4-2 on Friday during the first day of the Colorado State Classic.

Senior Chloe Miller batted in all four runs for the Badgers (16-2) while the team recorded six hits to Maine's (1-6) three.

On her first appearance of the day, Miller crushed a two-run homer over center field to give Wisconsin the 2-0 lead in the first inning. She brought home junior Kelsey Jenkins who reached base on a walk in the leadoff spot.

Maine cut the lead to 2-1 with an RBI single in the second frame, but Miller would strike again in the bottom of the fifth inning to widen the lead. With junior Brianna Flugaur and Jenkins on base, Miller sent a triple to left field to score both runners and give UW a 4-1 advantage.

The Black Bears scored another run in the top of the sixth, but the Badger defense made short work of the final inning to secure the 4-2 win.

Freshman Kaitlyn Menz faced 32 Black Bear batters, allowing just three hits and throwing five strikeouts.

Notes to Know:
-Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Menz improved to 9-2 on the season. She dealt out five strikeouts and walked four.
-Maine threw two pitchers but Annie Kennedy (0-2) took the loss after letting up five hits, four runs and walking three Badger batters.
-Senior Chloe Miller recorded her third home run of the season, putting up four RBI while going 2-for-2 at bat.
-It's the second game this season that Miller has had two multi-base hits in a game.
-Jenkins notched her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
-Miller and sophomore Stephanie Lombardo each notched a team-high five putouts.

Details from the Dugout:
"It makes a statement, especially in a tournament like this when we play this team three times and Colorado State twice. Seeing a team multiple times and being able to make a statement in that first game kind of says something. It's like we're here, we're ready to play and you guys better bring your A game.

"I've never played in Colorado before but I've heard the ball flies if you hit it right. I kind of got a little taste of it I guess.

"I think it's really good for Big Ten play. Although we're not going to play two doubleheaders in a row, this tournament in general with seeing a team three times is exactly like a Big Ten series. Seeing a team twice and playing doubleheaders are all we see in midweek games. It's a little chilly and all the elements are perfectly setting us up for Big Ten play."
Senior Chloe Miller

"The best part of the game was really that we got to see two of their pitchers. When you're going to see a team three times, if you've got a chance to hit them well enough to make them bring someone in, I thought that was the highlight of the game.

"If you can come out strong, that's a great thing. I don't think we did much well today, but we found a way to win and that's really important. I thought we were very average in hitting, fielding and pitching, but to be average and still find a way to compete and win was a big deal. I'm looking forward to our team stepping it up and having a better game, but we'll take the first win. Every win counts and we're proud of the team to travel all this way, come out in the colder weather and get a W."

"I think the leadership and the competitiveness that we've gotten from KJ and Chloe is a big deal. Chloe is having a great season and that leadership we need to see. In games like this, if they didn't play really outstanding, we don't win that game. Chloe came on strong, and KJ getting on base, it's a big deal."
Head Coach Yvette Healy

Up Next:
The Badgers meet Maine again on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT before taking on host Colorado State at 1:30 p.m.