WEST LAFYETTE, Ind. – Both teams rallied in the seventh inning but it was the Wisconsin softball team who came out on top 4-2 during the series opener at Purdue Friday night.
 
The Badgers (34-10 overall, 11-7 B1G) held a narrow 1-0 lead over the Boilermakers (30-21, 6-12) heading into the final frame at Bittinger Stadium. Junior Jordan Little had the only run of the game thus far thanks to a solo home run in the fourth inning.
 
Fellow junior Heather Rudnicki kick-started the UW offense again in the seventh inning with a leadoff triple to left field. She scored in the next at bat when senior Kelly Welsh reached base on a Boilermaker error.
 
Freshman Ally Miklesh kept the inning in full swing with a single that put Badgers on first and second with no outs. A Kayla Konwent hit to left field would score Welsh and give UW a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Badgers would tack on one more security run via a Taylor Johnson single up the middle that scored Konwent from second base.
 
Purdue would respond with a rally of its own in the bottom of the inning, but the Badgers held the Boilermakers to only two runs, sealing the first win of the series.
 
Junior Kaitlyn Menz earned her 16th win of the season after pitching all seven innings. Menz struck out four, walked four, and gave up four hits.
 

Notes to know

• After only one hit in the first six innings, four hits in the seventh inning led the Badgers to outhit Purdue, 5-4.
• Little recorded her 11th career home run and her sixth of the season.
• Sophomore Lauren Foster reached base for her 21st consecutive game.

 

On deck

Wisconsin returns to Bittinger Stadium tomorrow for a 10 a.m. (CT) tilt with the Boilermakers.