BALTIMORE, Md. – The Wisconsin softball team (11-15) fell to UMBC in a tight 7-5 loss today. This was the last game on the schedule for Wisconsin during the UMBC Spring Invite, The Badgers went 2-3 in their five games over the weekend. UMBC previously beat Wisconsin in the tournament 4-3 on Friday.
How It Happened:
The Badgers fell behind early, when the Retrievers singled twice off starts
Shelby Jacobson to score in the bottom of the first. Jacobson was removed from the game just three at-bats in, and replaced with
Tessa Magnanimo. Magnanimo let up another single that brought home a second runner for UMBC.
Wisconsin struck in the next frame, however.
Emily Bojan singled to start the top of the second, and
Eden Echevarria walked to put two runners on for
Ava Kuszak, who doubled to left field to even the game up at two apiece.
The Badgers then went up in the third inning, when
Brooke Kuffel went to the opposite field with a solo home run.
The biggest frame of the game though came in the bottom of the third, where UMBC put up a five spot. The Retrievers hit two home runs, including one to lead off the inning, and in total collected five hits. Wisconsin added in a wild pitch and a throwing error to the mix, and by the end of the inning it was 7-3 Retrievers.
Fighting to the end, Wisconsin began to rally in the fifth inning. Two singles and a groundout allowed pinch-runner
Danielle Lucey to score, before
Emily Bojan hit her second single of the game to bring home another runner.
The Badgers looked poised to score another in the sixth, with Katie Linkletter on third thanks to a bunt and an error, but the Badger outfielder was thrown out on a close play at home during the sac fly attempt.
Wisconsin was unable to bring home any runs in the seventh, even after a
Hilary Blomberg lead off double, as the Badgers fell 7-5 to the Retrievers.
Magnanimo went 5.2 innings with four earned runs and four strikeouts. Her record is now 4-6.
Batting Cleanup
- Ava Kuszak's two-RBI double now makes her second on the team in RBI with 15, and second for the most doubles with six.
- Brooke Kuffel hit her sixth home run on the year, good for second on the team. Kuffel had gone 16 games since last hitting a home run. She launched her first five in a seven game span earlier in the season.
- Emily Bojan went 2-for-2 with an RBI, her second two-hit game of the tournament.
Up Next: The Badgers begin Big Ten play next week, traveling to Iowa to play the Hawkeyes from March. 22-24. The games can be watched on Big Ten Plus. Live stats are available on the Badger softball schedule on uwbadgers.com, and live updates will be given on the @badgersoftball Facebook, X, and Instagram pages.
