(UW ATHLETICS) BOCA RATON, FL – The Wisconsin softball team split its second doubleheader in as many days, falling in a close battle to host RV Florida Atlantic before earning a 6-0 win versus Stonehill in the final game of the night.
In game two, the Badgers’ (3-1) pitching staff earned their third shutout in four games to start the season, their first time accomplishing that feat in an opening weekend in program history.
GAME ONEEmpty heading
The Badgers just fell short in a strong effort against a quality foe in FAU, dropping their first game of the year with a final score of 3-4.
Freshman Berritt Herr continued to find her rhythm in the circle early on for Wisconsin. Unfortunately for the Badgers, the right-hander ran into trouble in the third frame, allowing a pair of runs to score to put Florida Atlantic up 3-0.
The offense was silenced early on against the Owls, going hitless for the first three innings of the game.
In the fourth frame, sophomore Kendra Lewis earned the Badgers’ first hit of the game, lacing a double to the opposite field. Junior Alivia Bark followed it up with a single, and junior Danielle Lucey was able to load the bases with a hit by pitch with one out. Freshman Addison Wery tallied her first collegiate RBI with a sacrifice fly, cutting into the Owls’ lead.
Florida Atlantic provided a quick response with a pair of doubles in the fifth frame—boasting a 4-1 advantage heading into the latter half of the ballgame.
Sophomore Hannah Conger provided a spark late for UW, roping the first home run of her career to deep left field—bringing the Badgers within one in the final inning. FAU was able to secure the final out on a pop fly, handing Wisconsin a loss in game one of its Saturday slate.
Batting Cleanup:
- Hannah Conger barreled the first home run of her career in the seventh inning, setting a new career-best for most RBIs in a single game with two.
- Addison Wery notched her first career collegiate RBI with a sacrifice fly.
- Kendra Lewis provided a 1-for-3 showing with a double and a walk.
GAME TWOEmpty heading
For the second time this weekend, the Badgers secured a shutout victory over Stonehill, this time winning 6-0 to cap off their doubleheader.
UW navigated through the Hawks’ lineup with three separate arms, holding Stonehill to a pair of hits while walking zero batters. Shelby Jacobson put together a strong showing in her first start of the season, tossing four scoreless innings while racking up five strikeouts
Lewis followed it up with two efficient innings as the Badgers’ expanded their lead. In the final frame, freshman Sydney Vitangcol made her collegiate debut—retiring the Hawks in order with the help of a diving play from Wery in left field.
On the offensive end, Wisconsin got things started right away at the plate, as Bark drove in a run with a fielder’s choice in the first inning.
Conger continued to enjoy a career day from the bottom part of the order, as the sophomore plated a run with an RBI single in her first at bat of the game. In the fourth, the Gurnee, Illinois, native put together another productive at bat—driving in a run with a sacrifice fly. One batter later, senior Emily Bojan drilled a pitch to the opposite field for a double—putting the Badgers up 4-0.
It was Bark once again in the fifth, who continued to excel on the offensive end to kick off her season, as the junior singled up the middle to score senior Rylie Crane. In the next frame, the Badgers continued to threaten with runners in scoring position, where Bojan capitalized and earned her second RBI of the night on a groundout.
Batting Cleanup:
- UW’s pitching staff tallied their third shutout in four games to start the season, the first time doing so in program history.
- Shelby Jacobson threw four scoreless innings in her first start of the season, striking out five while facing one batter over the minimum.
- Sydney Vitangcol made her debut in the circle for the Badgers, retiring the Hawks in order to end the game and secure the shutout.
- Hannah Conger added two more RBIs in the night cap, finishing with four on the day.
- Emily Bojan finished with two RBIs, doing so for the fifth time in her career.
- Jaclyn Showalter put together a 2-for-3 performance against Stonehill, tallying her second multi-hit game on the weekend.
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