ATLANTA - The Wisconsin softball team finished day two of the ACC/Big Ten challenge after facing off against Louisville and a rematch verse Georgia Tech on Saturday, Feb. 18. 

LOUISVILLE 

The Badgers took the field against the Cardinals for the first time since 2020, a game which Louisville won. Unfortunately, the result repeated itself in the 9 a.m. matchup today as Wisconsin fell 2-0. 

Kayla Konwent picked up where she left off last night as the grad student singled in the first inning to start things off strong for the Badgers. Skylar Sirdashney followed that up with a single of her own; however, Wisconsin was unable to capitalize on the early hits and ended up stranding two on base. 

Errors and Louisville hits tested the Badger defense in the second inning, yet Wisconsin was able to come out of it without giving up a run after a big out at home to deny the Cardinals from grabbing the lead. 

Two more singles by the Cardinals put Wisconsin in a challenging position in the field in the inning; however, Maddie Schwartz continued to impress on the mound as she got the Big Ten team out of the inning once again. On offense, Katie Keller's hot streak was extended as the first baseman added another single in the inning. 

As things remained quiet and scoreless, Brooke Kuffel stepped in to pinch hit in the fifth inning and singled to left field to bring hope to the Badger's offense. But three-straight outs following that diminished any chances that Kuffel had to score. 

Louisville was able to do just enough to put up insurance runs in the seventh inning after two singles, and a double proved to be the determining factor as the ACC opponent scored two runs in the top of the final inning, and secure the win for the Cardinals.

Maddie Schwartz threw a complete game and scattered eight hits, gave up two earned runs, and had five strikeouts in seven innings.  

GEORGIA TECH

Wisconsin played Georgia Tech for the second time in as many days this afternoon in Atlanta, and the game was just as good as the last one. 

Freshman Paytn Monticelli earned her first start in the circle and came out firing. She threw back-to-back strikeouts before the Yellow Jackets got ahold of one and sent out a solo home run to give Georgia Tech an early lead. Monticelli responded by striking out the next batter.   

Although the Badgers went down early, the offense got hot in response. Katie Keller singled to start the bottom of the first, and Kayla Konwent found a way on base as a result of the fielders' choice. Brooke Kuffel then homered to center to scoring all three and take the lead, 3-1.

Ellie Hubbard added a single to her stat line in the bottom of the second inning, and with back-to-back walks to Keller and Konwent followed by a wild pitch, Wisconsin added an issuance run to extend the lead to 4-1.

The next few innings were quiet as Monticelli pitched her absolute best, striking out seven batters in six innings of work, a career-best for the star. The Wisconsin native scattered just three hits, one earned run, and two walks against the Yellow Jackets. Due to her phenomenal work and the efforts of the defense, the Badgers were able to get out of the sixth inning clean despite there being two runners on with no outs to start it. 

To top things off for Wisconsin, the team added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth after Peyton Bannon sent a ball to the fence scoring Eden Dempsey. Bre Mitchell then placed the perfect bunt down the third base line that the Yellow Jackets could not throw home in time, allowing Bannon to cross the plate. 

Wisconsin was up 6-1 going into the seventh when senior Tessa Magnanimo came in to close things out. She did so successfully despite giving up three hits in the one inning. 
 

"Batting Cleanup" 

• Rylie Crane earned the first start of her Badger career against Georgia Tech.

• Molly Schlosser went 1-for-3 against the Yellow Jackets.

• Keller went 1-for-2, extending her hit streak to three straight games.