ST. GEORGE, Utah. – The Wisconsin softball team (9-9) split their games in the opening double-header of the Utah Tech Invitation. Both games were against Utah Tech at the Trailblazer's home field. While Wisconsin lost the first game on a Trailblazer walk-off 6-5, the team managed to notch a win in the second game 4-0.
 
Here's how it when down:

GAME ONE

Wisconsin piled on the baserunners in the first game of the day. With three of the first four batters getting on base, Emmy Wells brought home the first run of the game in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Trailblazers responded in the second inning with a run scored in the same way, with starter Tessa Magnanimo giving up a double, single, and then a long flyout to bring home the runner, tying the game 1-1.
 
The game went scoreless for the next two innings, but Wisconsin broke through in the fifth. Sophomore Ava Kuszak hit a ball that carried all the way to dead-center field, clearing the fence and giving the Badgers the go ahead run.
 

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From there, the Badgers saw three doubles in the remainder of the inning. First from Hilary Blomberg, then one from Fiona Girardot to bring home the runner, and finally one from early-game substitution Skylar Sirdashney to make it 4-1 Wisconsin.

Both teams traded a run in the next two frames, with Utah Tech adding a solo shot of their own, and Alivia Bark collecting an RBI from a sac fly, the score now 5-2.

Magnanimo began to run into trouble during the sixth inning. A walk and a double plated one for Utah Tech, before an RBI single cut the deficit to just one, forcing Magnanimo out of the game, with Shelby Jacobson taking over pitching duties.
 
Jacobson stayed on to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh, allowing the first two runners to reach. She quickly retired the next two batters however, leaving Utah Tech down to their final out.
 
Despite quickly getting out in front of the batter 0-1, Utah Tech pushed a single to right center field that scored the runner from second to tie the game. The game ended in the next at-bat with another Trailblazer hitting the ball to left field on a two-strike count, and scoring the winning run.

Batting Cleanup

• Wisconsin left 10 runners on base throughout the game. This was the first time Wisconsin collected ten hits in a game this season but scored less than eight runs.
• Ava Kuszak went 3-for-3 with a HR. This is her first career three-hit game, and her second home run of the season.
• With her RBI double in this game, Skylar Sirdashney is 4-for-8 in her last four games, with four RBI in that span.
• Wisconsin had zero errors on the day after making 11 of them in their previous four games.

GAME TWO

The second game of the day took place immediately after, this time Gabi Salo got the start on the mound for Wisconsin.
 
Both teams couldn't get anything going offensively through the first three innings of the game. The Badgers had the lone hit of the game in that span, courtesy of a Brooke Kuffel single, while Gabi Salo went her first three innings with just one walk allowed and four strikeouts.
 
Things got trickier for the senior pitcher in the fourth inning through, with Utah Tech hitting a double and single to start the inning, and eventually getting runners to second and third with just one out. Salo coaxed a line out for the second out, however, and struck out the next batter on seven pitches to end the biggest scoring threat the Trailblazers would have all game.
 
Wisconsin managed to get two baserunners on in the bottom of the fourth. Emmy Wells then strode up to the plate and blasted a three-run bomb to left field, giving the Badgers the scoring push they needed.
 
Wisconsin added an insurance run in the fifth inning with Alivia Bark collecting her second sac fly in as many games, scoring Peyton Bannon who had advanced to third on a stolen base and a pop up.
 
Salo struck out two of the three batters she faced in the seventh to close the door on a 4-0 Badger victory. Salo improved her record to 5-1 for the season. She went all seven innings, giving up three hits, two walks, and striking out eight, matching her best single-game performances this season.

Batting Cleanup

• This was Salo's fourth complete game shutout, she came into today with the most shutouts in the Big Ten. Wisconsin now has seven shutouts on the season, they also came into today ranking first in the conference in that category, as well as sixth nationally.
• The Badgers went a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen base opportunities in both games played today. It's the most bases they've stolen in a two game span this season.
• With hits in both games today, freshman Hilary Blomberg now has a six-game hitting streak, and leads the team with a .400 average.

Up Next: The Badgers continue the Utah Tech Invitational tomorrow with another double-header, this time against Utah. The first game takes place at 12:00 PM CT, before turning around and playing again at 3 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.