Around the Horn: Badgers open season at Kajikawa Classic

Thursday, February 8

Tempe, AZ

6:30 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Arizona State University

Around the Horn: Badgers open season at Kajikawa Classic

February 06, 2024 | Softball

Tournament Central

Wisconsin to face ASU Thursday in first game

By: Jake Ross

Venue	Farrington Stadium \| Tempe, Ariz., GCU Softball Stadium \| Phoenix, Ariz.
Live Stats	Arizona State \| GCU \| Boise State \| Maine \| St. Thomas
Watch ($)	Arizona State (PAC12 Live) \| GCU (ESPN+)
Game Notes	Wisconsin
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| Instagram

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin softball will take the diamond for the first time in 2024 Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 PM against Arizona State. The game begins a slate of six games in four days as apart of the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona, with each game featuring a different opponent for the Badgers.

Here's what you need to know before the season begins.

1. 2023 REWIND – Last season's Badger squad finished the year with a 27-20 overall record, and a 12-10 conference record in the Big Ten. Wisconsin lost in their first game during the conference tournament to Illinois, despite winning the regular season series against them. Pitcher Maddie Schwartz, and first baseman Katie Keller each earned All-Big Ten first team honors, but both players, as well as the program's all time home run leader Kayla Konwent, have departed for the 2024 season.

2. SENIOR STARS – Wisconsin won't be without their fair share of returning players though. Graduate Tessa Magnanimo enters the season with 127.0 innings under her belt, while senior Gabi Salo looks to improve upon her 2.33 ERA from last year. Peyton Bannon swiped a team high 10 bags in 2023 and has a shot a breaking the school record for career triples. Skylar Sirdashney remains a consistent presence at third base, and the return of Fiona Giradot, who missed all last season, sees the Badger's get back a career .316 hitter.

3. FRESH FACES – Five position players make up the freshman class for 2024. A pair of infielders, Danielle Lucey and Paige Miller join the team as homegrown Wisconsinites, as well as catcher Hilary Blomberg. Eden Echevarria joins the team from Illinois, whose speed is anticipated to translate well to the outfield. Alivia Bark rounds out the newcomers as an infielder from Iowa.

4. KAJIKAWA CLASSIC – Wisconsin's first opponent is Arizona State, the host team for Kajikawa. The Badgers were victorious in the teams' last matchup, 10-1 in 2020, but still trail in the all-time series 2-7. Wisconsin then travels to Phoenix to take on Weber State and Grand Canyon the next day at 11:30 AM and 5 PM, playing both teams for the first time in program history at GCU Softball Stadium. Saturday will be another double-header back at Tempe, first against Boise State at 11:30AM, then Maine at 2:15PM. The final game of the tournament will be played against St. Thomas on Sunday at 10 AM. The Badgers scored 20 runs in the two-game series against the Tommies last season, going 1-1.

5. HOW TO WATCH – The first game of the classic will air on PAC-12 LIVE. Live stats for every game are available on the badger softball schedule on the uwbadgers.com website, and live updates will be given on the @badgersoftball Facebook, X -formerly Twitter-, and Instagram pages.