TEMPE, Ariz. – The Wisconsin softball team (4-1) finished off the Kajikawa Classic in Arizona with a defeat over the St. Thomas Tommies 8-0. All four of Wisconsin's wins during the tournament were run-rule victories, and the Badgers outscored their opponents 36-5 during the Classic.
How it Happened:
After both teams went silent in the first, the Badgers got things going in the bottom of the second with a two-run shot from catcher
Emmy Wells. Wells had previously homered yesterday in Wisconsin's game against Boise State. It also served as the ninth home run the Badgers would hit during the tournament.
The scoring continued thanks to a throwing error from St. Thomas that scored pinch-runner
Paige Miller, before second baseman
Ava Kuszak smacked a double to left field that plated two.
A sac fly from
Ellie Hubbard brought up the red-hot
Brooke Kuffel, who brought home the seventh and final runner of the inning with an RBI single.
The Badgers tacked on one more in the third inning, when Kuszak came back up and scored Miller courtesy of a bunt single.
Tessa Magnanimo (2-0) started the game for the Badgers, going three innings, with no earned runs, two strikeouts, and just one hit allowed.
Shelby Jacobson took over pitching duties in the fourth inning, striking out three batters in her first inning of work, before shutting the door on the Tommies in the fifth, finishing her two innings of work with four strikeouts and no hits allowed.
Batting Cleanup
- Ava Kuszak's three RBI are a single-game high for the sophomore. She had just three career RBI going into today's game. Kuszak went 6-for-12 in the Classic with five RBI and a double.
- Brooke Kuffel finished the Kajikawa Classic going 8-for-11 with four home runs, eight RBI, with two walks. Her 11 career home runs now leads the active roster.
- Tessa Magnanimo earned her second win of the season. She has now pitched 12 innings this season, allowing no earned runs.
- The last time Wisconsin started their season 4-1 was the 2020 season. Their 36 runs are the most through the Badger's first five games since 2019 (43 through five games).
Up Next: The Badgers travel to Florida to start the Clearwater invitational with a double-header against No.6 Georgia and No. 25 Kentucky on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 12 PM and 4 PM CT. Wisconsin will then play No. 9 Oklahoma State, UCF, and No.7 Washington from Friday to Saturday. The first game against Georgia will air on the SEC Network, with all subsequent games being streamed on ESPN+. Links to live stats can be found on our schedule page. Live updates will be given on the @badgersoftball Facebook, X, and Instagram pages.
