Badgers prepare for ASU/GCU Invitational

Friday, February 27

Phoenix, AZ

2:15 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

California Baptist University

Badgers gather after an inning ends at FGCU Classic.

Photo by: Ashley Steltenpohl

Badgers prepare for ASU/GCU Invitational

February 25, 2026 | Softball

UW slated to face two ranked opponents

By: Maddox Durst

Venue	GCU Softball Stadium \| Phoenix, Ariz. \| Farrington Stadium \| Tempe, Ariz.
Live Stats	CBU \| Grand Canyon \| CSU Bakersfield \| Arizona State \| UNLV
Watch ($)	Grand Canyon \| Arizona State
Game Notes	Wisconsin
Social Media	X \| Facebook \| Instagram

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin softball team returns to action this weekend, slated to take on five games in three days out west in the ASU/GCU Invitational—beginning on Friday, Feb. 27.

The Badgers (11-3) will kick things off in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday by playing a doubleheader against California Baptist at 2:15 p.m. CT and host No. 22/25 Grand Canyon at 7:30 p.m. CT. UW will shift to Tempe, Arizona, the following day, taking on CSU Bakersfield at 11:30 a.m. CT and No. 24/23 Arizona State at 5:00 p.m. CT. On Sunday, the weekend will wrap up versus UNLV, as first pitch is set for 10:00 a.m. CT.

Fans can follow along with live stats posted to uwbadgers.com for each game this weekend. Friday's battle against the Antelopes will be streamed on Mountain West Network, while Saturday's game versus the Sun Devils can be viewed on ESPN+.

Wisconsin will look to continue their winning ways this weekend, as they have secured victories in eight of their last nine games to get off to their best start since the 2019 season. UW is set to take on their first ranked opponents of the season and since 2024 in Grand Canyon and Arizona State. Wisconsin's last win versus a ranked foe came against No. 20 Utah in 2024 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, where UW exited with a 4-2 victory over the Utes.

The Badgers hold a 2-7 record all-time versus Arizona State, but have taken down a ranked Sun Devils unit in two of their last three matches dating back to 2019.

The offense for the Badgers has been a staple, as UW has posted double-digit hits in eight of their 14 games this year, most recently doing so in a run-rule win over UConn to complete a 4-1 weekend at the FGCU Classic in Florida. Wisconsin enters Arizona ranked 21st in the country in batting average at .356, averaging 6.79 runs per game while outscoring their opponents 95-41.

From the weekend's action, junior Makenzie Foster emerged as the standout with an impressive 7-for-12 showing. The Columbus, Indiana, native launched her second home run of her collegiate career this past weekend, and her first in a Badger uniform. Foster posted a hit in each of UW's five games, as she travels to Arizona this week with a six-game hitting streak under her belt, which marks the longest of her career.

Junior Hilary Blomberg continued to be a strong presence from the top of the lineup, as the catcher tallied three-straight multi-hit games to conclude her weekend in Florida. The right-handed hitter leads the team in multi-hit games with seven, as she currently has 38 in her career. Blomberg only needs nine more multi-hit games to enter the top-10 in program history for most in a career in just her third season in a Badger uniform.

From the leadoff spot, senior Emily Bojan has excelled—heading to Phoenix with the highest OPS on the team at 1.304, accumulating a team-best 19 runs and 18 hits. Bojan has reached base in every game for the Badgers this season. Junior Danielle Lucey has followed closely, providing five extra base hits while sporting a .415 batting average. The Cottage Grove native ended her weekend in Florida with a pair of web gems in the outfield, robbing a home run and snagging a line drive to cap off a successful weekend for the Badgers.

The pitching staff has also stepped up, as they racked up two more shutouts in last week's action at the FGCU Classic. Freshman Berritt Herr earned a pair of wins in Florida, as she enters this weekend with 31 strikeouts to just nine walks in the circle. Herr and others have guided UW to a 2.77 team ERA through the first three weeks of the season.

Up Next: The Badgers will return to the west coast, scheduled to play five more games in four days. UW will rematch against Grand Canyon, followed by taking on San Diego State in San Diego, California, on Thursday, March 5. The next day, Wisconsin will kick off Big Ten play against No. 8/9 UCLA in Los Angeles in a three-game series between Friday, March 6 and Sunday, March 8.