Badgers split games in opening day double-header

Friday, February 9

Phoenix, AZ

11:30 AM

Wisconsin Badgers

1-0

Weber State University

0-1

Wisconsin

Weber State

Brooke Kuffel celebrates home run with team

Photo by: Ashley Steltenpohl

Badgers split games in opening day double-header

February 09, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

UW beats Weber State 8-0, but falls to GCU 5-2

By: Jake Ross

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The first day of Wisconsin softball's 2024 season featured a split in the first two games, with the Badger's beating Weber State 8-0 in the first game, before falling to Grand Canyon in the second, 5-2. Both games were apart of the Kajikawa Classic in Arizona, and were hosted at GCU Softball Stadium

GAME ONE
Wisconsin scored early, and steadily increased their lead as the game went on in their first ever matchup against Weber State.

In her first plate appearance with her new team, Emmy Wells notched an RBI single that gave the Badgers the lead in the first inning.

Molly Schlosser then made it 3-0 the next inning, coming in as a pinch-hitter and roping a double to left field.

The Badgers biggest inning was the fourth, where they totaled four hits and two stolen bases to add another three runs. Wisconsin added two in the fifth with hits from Bojan and Wells, allowing for the mercy rule, up eight runs after five innings of play.

Gabi Salo on the other side faced little trouble in her first start and first win of the season. Her complete game shutout included eight strikeouts, with just four hits allowed.

Batting Cleanup

Gabi Salo's shutout was the first of the senior's career and the first Badger shutout since Tessa Magnanimo against Purdue on 4/08/23.
Ava Kuscak had her first multi-hit game in her career, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI.
Paige Miller collected her first career hit. The freshman from Kaukauna, Wis. came in as a pinch-runner in the second, scoring a run, before notching a single in the fourth.

GAME TWO
Facing another opponent for the first time in program history, Grand Canyon, Wisconsin was unable to keep a Lopes squad that went 42-13 last season at bay.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Brooke Kuffel came up to bat in the second and launched a no-doubter over the left field fence, scoring two and giving the Badgers the lead.

⬆️2nd | FIRST BADGER HOME RUN 🚨🚨🚨@Brookekuffel crushes the first homer for Wisconsin this season!

WIS 2 | GCU 1 pic.twitter.com/BAWo9eJi7l
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) February 9, 2024

Grand Canyon responded in a big way against Wisconsin's Shelby Jacobson, however, scoring three runs off three singles and some base-running antics, including a stolen base and a fielder's choice.

The Badger's couldn't find any offense the remainder of the way. Tallying one hit in the last three innings. Tessa Magnanimo came in for Jacobson in the fourth, and slowed down GCU, allowing just three baserunners in three innings with no earned runs.

Wisconsin ultimately fell 5-2 in seven innings.

Batting Cleanup

Brooke Kuffel's two-run home run in the second inning was the eighth of her career, the second most of any active Badger behind Fiona Girardot's ten.
Shelby Jacobson made her first career start, going three innings, giving up no extra-base hits, but allowing five to score.

Up Next: The Badgers continue the Kajikawa Classic tomorrow with another double-header. The first game against Boise State takes place at 11:30 AM CT, and the next against Maine shortly after at 2:15 PM CT. 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.