(UW ATHLETICS) FORT MYERS, FL – The Wisconsin softball team completed its weekend slate in style with an 8-0 win at the Gulf Coast Classic, run-ruling UConn behind a seven-run sixth inning and the second shutout of the season turned in by freshman Berritt Herr.
After going quiet for the first few frames, sophomore Hannah Conger provided a spark from the bottom of the lineup, turning in a leadoff single to set the table in the third. Senior Emily Bojan followed it up with a single of her own, as junior Hilary Blomberg capitalized with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. The Verona, Wisconsin, native has racked up 18 RBIs through 14 games, a team-high.
The offense broke through in the sixth inning, as the first four batters reached base. Juniors Alivia Bark and Danielle Lucey recorded back-to-back doubles to plate three runs, as the Badgers (11-3) took advantage of a Huskies’ defensive miscue early on in the frame.
Sophomore Emma King laid down a sacrifice bunt to move runners into scoring position, where UW rattled off four consecutive hits—including a trio of doubles from Conger, Bojan and Blomberg to make it 7-0. To cap off the frame, sophomore Kendra Lewis plated Bojan with a sacrifice fly to the outfield to push the score to 8-0.
Throughout the entirety of the game, Herr was able to keep the Huskies’ offense off balance—allowing zero runs while punching out six batters. Herr’s second shutout of the year moves her to eighth all-time in program history for most shutouts turned in by a freshman pitcher, as she is tied with former Badger Katie Layne (2002).
The Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, native worked around a pair of walks in the final inning, securing Wisconsin’s fourth run-rule victory of the season. Junior Danielle Lucey helped in the process, as the 2025 All-Big Ten Defensive Team honoree robbed a home run to complete a successful showing in Fort Myers.
Batting Cleanup:
- Wisconsin’s 11-3 record is its best start to a season since 2019, where they were 13-1 through the first 14 games.
- UW hit five doubles in the sixth inning. The Badgers have hit five doubles in a game eight times in program history, last doing so in 2024 versus Long Beach State.
- Wisconsin scored seven runs in the sixth inning for just the second time in program history, as they achieved that mark against Iowa in 2022.
- The Badgers recorded 12 hits versus UConn, marking the eighth time UW has finished with double-digit hits this season.
- Berritt Herr secured the second shutout of her career, twirling six scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Herr moves to eighth all-time in UW freshman history for most shutouts, tying Katie Layne (2002).
- Hilary Blomberg led the way with a 2-for-4 performance, driving in a pair of Badgers. Blomberg leads the team in RBIs with 18.
- Emily Bojan has reached base in all 14 games this year. The senior was 2-for-4 in Sunday’s game, doubling once.
- Kendra Lewis recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season in a 2-for-3 showing.
- Hannah Conger earned her third multi-hit game of the year, scoring twice.
- Makenzie Foster put together her best weekend of the season, going 7-for-12 (.583 BA) with three RBIs and two extra base hits.
Up Next: The Badgers will make their way out west for the first time this season, as they are slated to play in the ASU/GCU Invitational in Arizona. UW will play five games in three days, beginning on Friday, Feb. 27 with a doubleheader versus California Baptist at 2:15 p.m. CT and RV Grand Canyon at 7:30 p.m. CT.
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