MADISON, Wis. – The 25th-ranked Wisconsin softball team swept Northern Iowa in a doubleheader Tuesday evening at Goodman Diamond. The Badgers (24-5) took game one of their home opener 6-1 before run-ruling UNI (13-13) 11-2 in game two.
 
GAME ONE
The Badgers took an early lead in game one, getting on the board in the second inning. Junior Jordan Little got on base with a leadoff double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Lauren Foster bunt.
 
In the fifth inning, a second run crossed the plate on a Little single to right field. With two Badgers in scoring position, freshman Jolie Fish hit a double to center to make it a 4-0 ballgame. One more run came in when sophomore Lauren Foster singled through the right side to complete the four-run inning.
 
UW's last run of the game was scored on a wild scramble play that ultimately resulted in a Taylor Johnson score.
 
Sophomore Haley Hestekin pitched an amazing game, retiring the first 17 batters in order before UNI was able to get its first base runner. Hestekin struck out five while only giving up three hits, one walk and one run.
 
GAME TWO
It was Northern Iowa that struck first in the second game of the doubleheader, but the Badgers didn't stay down for long. A half an inning later, Johnson scored on a Lombardo double. The fun continued when the Badgers loaded the bases later in the frame. Fish hit a fly ball to shallow right field that was catchable, but a UNI error allowed three Badgers to score. The fifth and final run of the inning was scored by Fish when Foster doubled through the right side.
 
From there on out the Badgers put on a home run clinic, notching three two-run dingers. Johnson hit hers in the fourth inning, followed by Kayla Konwent in the fifth inning and Little in the sixth inning.
 
Junior Kaitlyn Menz picked up the win in game two. She pitched five innings with one strikeout.
 

Batting clean-up: Four notes to know

• The Badgers have won five-straight non-conference contests.
• Game two marked the sixth time this season that UW has hit three homers in a game.
• Konwent hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season tonight.
• UW outhit the Panthers 20-10 on the day.

 

On deck

The Badgers resume conference play this weekend with a road trip to Penn State. Friday's game starts at 5 p.m. CT, Saturday's contest is at 2 p.m. and Sunday's game will begin at 11 a.m. and will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.