Around the Horn: Badgers put to the test at Clearwater

Thursday, February 15

Clearwater, FLA

12 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

University of Georgia

Photo by: Ashley Steltenpohl

Around the Horn: Badgers put to the test at Clearwater

February 13, 2024 | Softball

Wisconsin faces four ranked teams at Invitational

By: Jake Ross

Venue	Eddie C. Moore Complex \| Clearwater, Fla.
Live Stats	Georgia \| Kentucky \| Oklahoma State \| UCF \| Washington
Watch ($)	SEC (vs Georgia) \| ESPN+ (All other games)
Game Notes	Wisconsin
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| Instagram

MADISON, Wis. – After going 4-1 at the Kajikawa Classic last weekend, the Wisconsin softball team will travel to their next tournament in the form of the Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Florida. Starting Thursday, Feb. 15, the Badgers face five teams, with three of them, Georgia, Oklahoma State, and Washington, sitting in the top ten.

Here's what you need to know before the tournament.

1. CROOKED NUMBERS – Wisconsin started their season with a bang, scoring 36 runs in their first five games, their most runs to start a season in that many games since 2019. The Badgers clubbed nine home runs, including seven in consecutive games against Boise State and Maine, a feat last pulled off in 2017. Brooke Kuffel led the barrage with four long-balls, becoming the eighth Badger to homer in three consecutive games.

She is her. 👑@BrookeKuffel pic.twitter.com/cJjqsOkRdN
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) February 12, 2024

2. FIRST IMPRESSIONS – There were a plethora of new Badgers who shined in their debut at Kajikawa. In eight at-bats, freshman Alivia Bark collected five hits the first of which being a home run against Boise State. Northern Iowa transfer, Emmy Wells, hit two round-trippers in a three-game span. Paige Miller made the most of her pinch-hit and pinch-run appearances, getting her first hit in her first career at-bat, and leading the team in runs with eight. While another freshman, Danielle Lucey, scored four runs and went a perfect four-for-four on the basepaths.

3. SUPERB SHUTOUTS – All four of Wisconsin's wins so far have been shutouts. Senior Gabi Salo collected her first career shutout in the first game of the year against Weber State, before turning around and doing it again in her very next start against Maine. Tessa Magnanimo collected a complete game shutout as well and didn't allow an earned run in all 12.0 of her innings. This is the first time in Badger history where the team started their season with four shutouts in five games.

4. CLEARWATER INVITATIONAL – Wisconsin faces off four ranked teams in Clearwater, starting with a double header of No. 4 Georgia and No. 18 Kentucky on Thursday at 12PM and 4PM CT. Wisconsin has never played Georgia in program history, and is 0-1 against Kentucky, losing in 2022. Friday is another double-header, this time No. 6 Oklahoma State and UCF at 2:30PM and 7PM CT, with the Badgers having 0-4 and 1-0 all-time records against each team. The last game of the tournament will be held Saturday morning, at 9AM CT, against No. 5 Washington, where the Badgers sport a 0-5 record against the Huskies, last playing in 2020.

5. HOW TO WATCH – The first game against Georgia will air on the SEC Network, with the subsequent games being streamed on ESPN+. Live stats for every game are available on the Badger softball schedule on uwbadgers.com, and live updates will be given on the @badgersoftball Facebook, X, and Instagram pages.