Box Score NORMAN, Okla. – The Wisconsin softball team opened up the NCAA Tournament with a win over Notre Dame Friday night, beating the Irish 4-2 to advance in the winner's bracket.
 
Taking a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning, sophomore Taylor Johnson smashed her 14th home run of the season to give Wisconsin a 4-0 advantage. Her bomb to left field scored Ally Miklesh and Tyra Turner and gave UW a couple extra insurance runs heading into the bottom of the seventh.
 
Those insurance runs proved vital when Notre Dame fought back with a pair of hits and walks in the bottom of the frame to score two. With the bases loaded, Kelly Welsh caught a pop-up to end the inning and the game.
 
The Badgers' first run of the game came in the second inning. A walk and hit-by-pitch put Badgers on first and second for Caroline Hedgcock. The junior snuck a single up the middle allowing sophomore Lauren Foster to slide home for the score.
 
Junior ace Kaitlyn Menz pitched a complete game for her 19th win of the season.  
 
On deck
The Badgers will play the winner of No. 1 Oklahoma and UMBC tomorrow at 3 p.m. Stay tuned for weather updates on Twitter @BadgerSoftball.