Around the Horn: Badgers all set for South Florida Showdown

Friday, February 21

Tampa, FL

12:30 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Louisville

Photo by: Ashley Steltenpohl

Around the Horn: Badgers all set for South Florida Showdown

February 19, 2025 | Softball

UW begins the last of three Florida tournaments on Friday

By: Jake Ross

Venue	USF Softball Stadium \| Tampa, FL
Live Stats	Louisville (G1) \| USF \| Troy \| Kent State \| Louisville (G2)
Game Notes	Wisconsin
Broadcast	USF
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| Instagram

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin softball team (6-4) begins the last of its three Florida tournaments on Friday, heading to Tampa for the South Florida Showdown.

The tournament is hosted by USF. Wisconsin will play five games during the weekend, beginning with Louisville on Friday at 12:30 p.m. (CT).

Here's what you need to know before the tournament.

1. FGCU INVITATIONAL RECAP – Despite going 2-3 in the FGCU Invitational, there were plenty of bright spots for the team last weekend. A seven-run, 12-hit win against Seton Hall served as Wisconsin's best offensive output so far this season, with every Badger in the starting lineup reaching base. The next day against Seton Hall, the Badgers walked off for the first time since February of 2023, when Alivia Bark's squeeze bunt scored Emma King to win, 3-2. Wisconsin's losses came against Omaha (7-0), and Florida Gulf Coast twice (3-1, 2-1).

2. NAVIGATING TRAFFIC – Ten games into the season, Wisconsin has been adept at both limiting opposing runners on the basepaths, and running the basepaths itself. The Badgers sport an ERA of 2.84, and much of that has been due to their pitching's ability to minimize baserunners. UW is second in the Big Ten in walks per seven innings, with a 1.4 mark. Their WHIP (measuring the average number of baserunners a team gives up per inning) is third at a 1.07 mark. Conversely, Wisconsin seems to create havoc when they are running, ranking fourth in the conference in steals with 17. It was that kind of baserunning prowess that allowed the Badgers to walk-off Seton Hall in their latest game, scoring a runner from second off two successful bunts.

3. GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY – Limiting free passes was one thing that Molly Jacobson did particularly well during the FGCU Invitational. In her last three appearances last weekend, Jacobson allowed just six batters to reach base in 12.1 innings, with only one of those runners crossing the plate. Since transferring from Virginia Tech, Jacobson has pitched great for Wisconsin. In 25.1 innings, she sports a 2.49 ERA and a .99 WHIP.

4. SCHLOSSER'S SLASH LINE – The hitting side for Wisconsin was dominated by another Molly, senior outfielder Molly Schlosser. Schlosser collected five hits all of last season, and matched that total during the five games of the FGCU Invitational. One of those hits was a solo home run against FGCU - the fourth of her career. Schlosser is off to a hot start on the season, hitting .300 with a .382 on-base percentage. She's a huge component of the Badger's base stealing this season as well. She's doubled her career stolen base total in this season alone, leading the team with seven.

5. SOUTH FLORIDA SHOWDOWN – Just north of Fort Myers is Tampa, the site of the South Florida Showdown hosted by USF. The Showdown features five games from Friday to Sunday. A double-header against Louisvlle (12:30 p.m.) and USF (5:35 p.m.) kicks things off on Friday. On Saturday, the Badgers face Troy (3 p.m.) and Kent State (5:35 p.m.). And Sunday finishes things off with a rematch against Louisville at 8 a.m..