Badgers outpaced in two high-scoring games

Friday, February 16

Clearwater, FLA

2:30 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

4-4

Oklahoma State

6-1

Oklahoma State

Wisconsin

Photo by: Ashley Steltenpohl

Badgers outpaced in two high-scoring games

February 16, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Wisconsin falls to No. 6 Oklahoma State and UCF

By: Jake Ross

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Wisconsin softball team (4-5) fell in each of their games of the Clearwater Invitational in Florida. Each game was a slugfest, with Wisconsin seeing leads in both bouts, but ultimately the Badgers were outpaced by No. 6 Oklahoma State, 9-5, and UCF 21-9.

GAME ONE

Wisconsin scored the bulk of their runs in their first game against No. 6 Oklahoma State via the long ball. Going yard twice in the first three innings. This put Wisconsin up 5-2, with only one of those runs coming from a non-home run, Ava Kuszak's RBI single in the second.

It was freshman Alivia Bark's two-run homer that put the Badgers up 2-1 in the first. While Brooke Kuffel added to her daunting power numbers this season by hitting a two-run shot in the third.

🔽1st | "Bark leaves the park!"

@livsb45 hits a two run shot to give the Badgers the lead! Their third game in a row with a 1st inning blast!

OSU 1 | WIS 2 pic.twitter.com/UCFCmFloah
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) February 16, 2024

After chasing OSU's starter out of the game, the Cowgirl's bullpen prevented Wisconsin scoring throughout the rest of the game, with just one hit for the Badgers past the third.

OSU's bats did most of their damage with two outs. They collected eleven hits for the game with two gone, with all their runs for the games coming off either singles, sacrifices, or fielding miscues from the Badgers. Ultimately, the Cowgirl's put up a three-spot in the seventh inning, putting the game out of reach for the Badgers 9-5.

Shelby Jacobson pitched the majority of the game for Wisconsin, with Tessa Magnanimo and Gabi Salo recording just one out each. Jacobson was nabbed with the loss after going 6.1 IP, with 12 hits, and six earned runs allowed.

Batting Cleanup

Brooke Kuffel hit her team leading fifth home run of the season. This now breaks the junior's previous single-season high of four from last year.
Alivia Bark went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
The Badgers hit a first inning home run for the third consecutive game, and have held a lead in all eight games played.

GAME TWO

Playing in their second game of the day against UCF, Wisconsin held steady with the Knight's throughout the game before an eight-run sixth inning made the game out of hand for the Badgers.

The game proved itself a slugfest from the start, with UCF hitting two solo home runs off Tessa Magnanimo in the first inning. Wisconsin got both of those runs back in the bottom half, thanks to Fiona Girardot's two-run single.

The second inning was the same with UCF notching two, and the Badgers responding this time with a Peyton Bannon home run.

🔽2nd | We're Tied AGAIN!@PeytonBannon hits her first homer of the year, and these Badgers won't quit!

UCF 4 | WIS 4 pic.twitter.com/YNSOyiL9Sa
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) February 17, 2024

There were two lead changes in the third inning, with UCF taking the lead again with a three-spot, before Wisconsin responded with hits from Bark, Hilary Blomberg, and Emmy Wells, putting up four, and giving Wisconsin their first lead of the game.

Wisconsin then fell again to two-out hits, when UCF collected six runs in the next two innings, with five runs coming with two outs. Wisconsin's only answer was a Bark solo shot in the fifth.

UCF would then run away with it in the sixth inning, scoring eight runs against a depleted Badger's pitching staff. The big inning incited the run rule, ending this one 21-9 in six innings.

Salo took the loss for the Badgers, taking over pitching duties from Magnanimo in the third inning, and going 2.0 Innings with six earned runs allowed.

Batting Cleanup

Alivia Bark went 5-for-8 with two home runs, four RBI, and five runs scored during both games of the double header. The freshman now leads the team in hits (12), runs (13), and average (.500).
The Badgers have homered in eight consecutive games.
Peyton Bannon hit her first home run of the season. Her last long ball came last year against DePaul on 4/11/23.
Hilary Blomberg went 2-for-3 with an RBI and made her collegiate pitching debut.
Former Badger, Ava Justman, made a pitching appearance for UCF.
This game marks the most hits (25) and runs (21) the Badgers have allowed in program history.

Up Next: The Badgers finish the Clearwater Invitational tomorrow with an early morning game against No. 5 Washington at 9:00 AM CT, to be streamed on ESPN+. Links to live stats for both games can be found on our schedule page. Live updates will be given on the @badgersoftball Facebook, X, and Instagram pages.