The Wisconsin Badgers softball team took on the Boise State Broncos and Maine Black Bears in a doubleheader Saturday, allowing a whopping total of zero runs from their opponents en route to winning each game 9-0.
Wisconsin outfielder Brooke Kuffel gave the Badgers an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second against Boise State after mirroring her solo homer from their last game just a day before against GCU.
After a slow few innings, the Badgers scored another five runs in the fourth. Catcher Emmy Wells hit a two run homer — her first homerun with the Badgers — and infielder Alivia Bark hit the first homerun of her career, clearing the center field fence.
After a couple of sac-flies and yet another homerun from Kuffel in the sixth, the Badgers ended 9-0 for pitcher Tessa Magnanimo’s second career shutout. Magnanimo pitched all six innings, allowing no runs or walks.
Wisconsin then swept Maine, improving their all-time record against the Black Bears to 6-0. Outfielder Molly Schlosser set the stage for success after knocking one over the right field fence for a leadoff homer. Taking advantage of Maine’s errors, the Badgers were already up 6-0 by the end of the second.
Being one of only seven players in Badgers softball history to record a home run in three straight games, Kuffel continued her hot streak and joined the exclusive list of players to do so. With back-to-back home runs from her and infielder Ellie Hubbard, the Badgers ended game two 9-0, this time finishing after the top of the fifth. This adds to an extraordinary total of seven home runs across the eleven innings.
The next day, the Badgers proved their wins were not flukes with an 8-0 shutout against St. Thomas. Wisconsin gathered a combined 36-5 score across the weekend series of Arizona Kajikawa Classic games.
Acting as the Badgers’ ninth homer of the Classic, catcher Emmy Wells began the lead with a two-run shot. After a double from infielder Ava Kuszak — who hit three RBIs against St. Thomas — and an RBI from Kuffel, the Badgers were winning 7-0, all before the third inning.
With an RBI from Kuszak, the Badgers scored one more in the third. Meanwhile, between Magnanimo and relief pitcher Shelby Jacobson, there were six strikeouts, only one total hit and no earned runs in the win.
Up next, the Badgers have the Clearwater Invitational in Florida, which promises a more challenging schedule. Wisocnsin will play five games from Feb. 15-17, with four of the five being ranked teams.
