Badgers drop pair of video games in Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Wisconsin softball workforce dropped its pair of matchups to kick off the ASU/GCU Classic, falling 4-1 to California Baptist and 9-8 in a late-night thriller in opposition to No. 22/25 Grand Canyon.

Junior Hilary Blomberg was the standout within the nightcap in opposition to the Lopes, handing over her second profession multi-home run sport with 4 RBI to steer the comeback effort late. 

GAME ONE

The Badgers (11-5) bought off to a fast begin on either side of the ball with the assistance of sophomore Kendra Lewis. The two-way athlete jumped within the circle and retired California Baptist so as within the first body, following it up with a solo residence run within the backside half of the primary to make it 1-0. Lewis earned her first residence run of the 12 months and the eighth of her profession. 

Unfortunately for UW, right-hander Miranda De Nava managed the bats and held the Badgers to a season-low in hits and runs scored. 

The Lancers took benefit of a handful of errors turned in by Wisconsin, because the Badgers completed with a season-high 5 all through the afternoon. California Baptist plated a pair of runs in each the third and the fifth inning, as that was all they wanted behind a top quality pitching effort. 

UW threatened within the remaining body after a leadoff stroll from redshirt freshman Jaclyn Showalter, however the Lancers halted a rally to safe the victory—handing the Badgers their fourth lack of the season. 

Batting Cleanup: 

• Kendra Lewis hit her first HR of the 12 months and the eighth of her profession. Lewis additionally tossed a season-high 5 innings within the circle, permitting zero earned runs.
• Emily Bojan has reached base in all 15 video games this season, strolling as soon as in Friday’s sport.
• Wisconsin dedicated a season-high 5 errors.

GAME TWO

The Badgers couldn’t hand Grand Canyon their first lack of the season, forcing a late comeback within the nightcap in Phoenix earlier than dropping their second sport of the day. 

UW as soon as once more took a lead first, as junior Alivia Bark squared up a pitch and despatched a double to the alternative subject—driving in senior Emily Bojan, who reached base for the sixteenth consecutive sport with a leadoff stroll.

The Antelopes supplied a fast reply, posting a pair of crooked numbers within the first two innings, highlighted by 4 doubles tallied by the GCU bats. Raegan Holtorf capped off the second inning with an RBI base hit, giving the Antelopes a 5-1 benefit by way of two. 

Junior Hilary Blomberg adopted shortly with a solo residence run within the third inning, her fourth of the season and twenty third of her profession. 

The Badgers supplied a powerful rally within the fourth inning, plating three runs to chop the deficit to 8-5. Bojan clutched up with the bases loaded, lofting a single into the outfield to drive in two. Sophomore Hannah Conger got here round to attain on a throwing error by the Antelopes’ catcher in a while within the inning. 

Right-hander Shelby Jacobson got here on in aid and quieted the GCU offense, limiting the Antelopes to only one hit during the last 1.2 innings of play—permitting Wisconsin to forge a comeback. 

Blomberg was fast to take benefit, because the Verona native blasted a three-run residence run to deep left subject to make it 9-8 within the sixth body. The catcher earned 4 RBI in a single sport for the sixth time in her profession, good for the second-most in program historical past. 

After Jacobson shut down the Antelopes within the backside half of the sixth, GCU ace Taryn Batterton got here on and retired the Badgers to be able to enhance their document to an unblemished 19-0. 

Batting Cleanup:

• Hilary Blomberg hit two residence runs, the twenty third and twenty fourth of her profession. Blomberg tallied a multi-HR sport for the second time in her profession, final doing so on Apr. 6, 2025, in opposition to Washington. The Verona native racked up 4 RBIs for the sixth time in her profession, good for the second-most all-time in program historical past.
• Emily Bojan has reached base in all 16 video games this season, ending 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
• Emma King put collectively her greatest evening of the season, incomes the primary multi-hit sport of her profession with a 3-for-4 exhibiting. Defensively, King made a diving catch in LF within the fourth inning.
• Alivia Bark had a 2-for-4 exhibiting with a double, tallying an RBI early on within the first inning.
• Kendra Lewis completed 2-for-4, her sixth multi-hit sport of the season.
• UW’s offense earned double-digit hits for the ninth time this 12 months.

Up Next: The Badgers are slated for an additional doubleheader starting tomorrow morning, as they are going to tackle CSU Bakersfield at 11:00 a.m. CT and No. 24/23 Arizona State at 4:30 p.m. CT. Fans can comply with together with dwell stats housed on uwbadgers.com. Wisconsin’s sport versus the Sun Devils will likely be televised on ESPN+.