FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Wisconsin softball team (4-3) dropped their first two games of the FGCU invitational this Friday. The Badgers fell to Omaha, 7-0 in their first game of the day, before losing to Florida Gulf Coast, 3-1 later on. 

GAME ONE

Wisconsin fell in the first game of the FGCU Invitational, losing to Omaha, 7-0.

The Badgers struggled to produce anything offensively off Omaha's Maddia Groff, who went 7.0 innings, giving up just three base runners, and striking out 12 batters.

Alivia Bark and Hilary Blomberg collected Wisconsin's three hits, with Bark hitting a single to lead-off the game, and Blomberg producing two hits later on.

Gabi Salo started the game for UW, giving up her first runs of the year after a two-run home run in the third inning. Salo ended up with the loss, going 4.0 innings allowing two earned runs, three hits, and striking out three.

Molly Jacobson came in for relief in the fifth inning, loading up the bases and giving up two more runs.

Omaha tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh, scoring off a solo home run, a single, and a wild pitch. Freshmen Gabby Fakes and Jordan Felci each pitched during the inning.

The Badger's pitching staff struggled with command all day, giving up four walks, hitting five batters, and throwing a wild pitch.

Wisconsin's winning streak came to an end at four games.

Batting Cleanup

• Hilary Blomberg went 2-for-3 with a double.
• Alivia Bark extended her hitting streak to six games. The last Badger to begin their season with at least six-consecutive games with a hit was Jolie Fish in 2020.
• The Badger's pitching staff went 37.0 innings without giving up a home run - the longest stretch to start a season since 2020.
• Freshman Jordan Felci made her collegiate debut in the seventh inning, collecting her first strikeout.

GAME TWO

Wisconsin's next game of the day came against Florida Gulf Coast, where the team lost, 3-1.

The third inning provided the only scoring in the game. In the top of the third, Aliva Bark singled home Makenzie Foster - who reached scoring position after a double.

The Eagle's retaliated in the bottom of the frame against starter Kendra Lewis. With two runners in scoring position, FGCU hit a single and a double in back-to-back at bats, giving the team a 3-1 lead that it would not relinquish.

The Badgers finished with just three hits on the day from Bark, Foster, and Molly Schlosser.

Lewis, who took the loss, pitched 2.2 innings, giving up all three earned runs on four hits. Molly Jacobson came into relief and pitched the rest of the way - putting up a clean 3.1 innings with just one base runner allowed.

Batting Cleanup

• Makenzie Foster's double was her first extra-base hit of the season, and her first with the Badgers. Foster leads the team with four runs scored this season.
• Alivia Bark extended her hitting streak to seven games to start the season. This matches Jollie Fish's total in 2020, who was the last Badger to begin their season with seven-consecutive-games with a base hit.
• Bark has 10 of Wisconsin's 41 hits this season.
• The Badgers did not commit an error in either of the games they played today.

Up Next:

The Badgers continue the FGCU Invitational tomorrow with games against Seton Hall (10 a.m.) and Florida Gulf Coast (3 p.m.). Live stats for every game are available on the Badger softball schedule on uwbadgers.com, and live updates will be given on the @badgersoftball Facebook, X, and Instagram pages.