The University of Wisconsin softball team (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten) began play at the Dream City Invitational on Friday, Feb. 13, with matchups against Iowa State and UT Arlington.
Game one for the Badgers started early Friday against Iowa State, with freshman Berritt Herr making her fourth start of the season. After an impressive collegiate debut, Herr struggled in her next two outings and entered the game looking to bounce back. Herr went on to deliver her best start yet, pitching all seven innings and allowing just one run.
Offensively, the Badgers struggled, scoring just one run through six innings on a home run from senior Emily Bojan.
With the game tied 1-1 in the seventh inning, junior Hilary Blomberg laid down a sacrifice bunt to drive in a run, giving the Badgers the lead. Sophomore Kendra Lewis followed with a two-run double, and junior Danielle Lucey added an insurance run as the Badgers pulled away for a 5-1 win.
In game two, UT Arlington hit a home run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead over the Badgers, a lead that did not last long. The Badgers scored six runs in the top of the second, led by freshman Jaclyn Showalter’s her first collegiate home run.
Arlington clawed away at the lead, scoring three runs in the third inning. A run batted in (RBI) by Lewis made it 7-4 Badgers in the fourth inning. Leading by three, the Badgers went on an offensive tear and doubled their run total in the sixth inning, started by Blomberg’s second home run of the season.
With Wisconsin leading 14-4, sophomore Jordan Felci pitched a clean inning to end the game, closing out the Badger’s third mercy in their five victories.
Bojan had an impressive day, going 5-for-8 with a walk while scoring four runs and batting in three. Blomberg and Lewis have followed up their All-Big Ten selections from a season ago with impressive starts, including four and three RBIs on the day, respectively.
The Badgers will continue invitational play on Saturday with a game against Tulsa followed by another matchup with Iowa State on Sunday.
