TAMPA, Fla. - The Wisconsin Softball team (12-9) started day one of the USF Tournament with a bang. The Badgers went 2-0 winning their first game against the University of Massachusetts (3-4) 8-1 and beating Iowa State (10-10) in their second game, 7-6.

Massachusetts
Stephanie Lombardo hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth that gave the Badgers a 4-0 lead at the time. She brought in Taylor Johnson, who hit a single to lead-off the inning. 

Three more runs were scored, one from Tyra Turner who had a single down the third baseline and scored off a double that Ally Miklesh doubled. The other two runs were unearned from Miklesh and Konwent who made it to home plate after Fiona Girardot reached on an
error.

Kayla Konwent and Caroline Hedgcock both had single home runs. Konwent's was in the first inning and was a lead-off homer to put UW up with a 1-0 lead. Hedgcock had one at the top of the seventh that would be the last score of the game giving them an 8-1 lead.

The last run for Wisconsin came in the top of the fourth inning. Lombardo hit a double to center field, and Heather Rudnicki came in to pinch run for her. Lauren Foster had a sacrifice hit that advanced Rudnicki to third, and thanks to a bunt from Turner, Rudnicki scored.

Starting in the circle for Wisconsin was Haley Hestekin. She threw four strikeouts in six innings pitched until Maddie Schwartz came in to close the game for the Badgers. Schwartz pitched one inning and recorded a single strikeout on 11 pitches.

Iowa State
After Wisconsin maintained the lead for the majority of the game, the Iowa State Cyclones caught up to the Badgers and made it a tie game in the fifth inning. Thanks to Jordan Little, the Badgers were able to come out on top when she hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. This was the first home run of the season for the senior second baseman. 

Wisconsin scored four in the first inning and was off to a hot start. Junior catcher, Taylor Johnson, hit a three-run home run that would score Jolie Fish and Alli Clark who pinch ran for Lombardo. Tyra Turner would make her way around the bases on score for the Badgers as well. She made it to first after being hit by the pitch and advanced to both second and third by stealing the bases. Ally Miklesh hit a single that brought Turner home and made it a 4-1 game after the conclusion of the first inning, 

The Badger bats were right back at it in the second inning and scored another two runs this inning. Kayla Konwent homered to make it a 5-1 game and give her six home runs on the season. Fiona Girardot would get on base after being walked and scored off a single bunt from Fish.

The Cyclones put up runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings that would bring it to a tie game, but despite these efforts, Wisconsin ended on top with the help of a Jordan Little home run in the bottom of the sixth and solid defense in the seventh and finish.

Kaitlyn Menz got the win and pitched all seven innings for the Badgers and struck out two hitters.

On Deck: The Badgers play in two more games in the USF tournament. First against tournament hosts, South Florida at 1 p.m. CT and the second against TBD.