Wisconsin vs. Valparaiso Goodman Field · Madison, Wis. · Attendance: 275 Game #1: Box Score  |  Box Score   Game #2: Box Score  |  Box Score

April 8, 2015

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin women's softball team brought the heat on a chilly spring day at Goodman Diamond, as the Badgers swept their doubleheader against Valparaiso, 10-2 in game one and 11-2 in game two.

"It has been fun to be here at home," UW head coach Yvette Healy said. "I think since we have been here, we have been swinging the bats and running the bases really well. It has been a team effort and it's not just one kid, so we're excited to see the ball fly and see people run bases. Anytime you can put up runs, especially in front of your home fans, it's always fun."

Stellar pitching from the Badgers (16-20 overall) didn't give Valparaiso (8-25) many chances at the plate. Mariah Watts pitched in game one and improved to 7-5 on the season. The freshman pitcher tallied two strikeouts in five innings pitched, and allowed two runs and six hits.

Taylor-Paige Stewart kept Valpo out of the second game as Stewart tallied four strikeouts to start and a season-high 11 total in five innings pitched. The junior allowed just two hits and two runs in her sixth win of the season.

"We are really proud of (Watts), especially as a young pitcher," Healy said. "Taylor (Stewart) came out just lights out. For her to come out and to just start striking out, she put together seven strikeouts at the start of the game. She came out fired and that was what we needed."

In game one, the Badgers posted a 10-2 win after an explosive seven-run inning secured the victory for the Badgers. Wisconsin recorded nine hits to Valpo's six, while both teams recorded two errors each.

Senior Maria Van Abel, senior Marissa Mersch and junior Katie Christner each notched two runs for UW, while four other Badgers recorded one a piece. Senior Megan Tancill led all players with three RBI and four other UW hitters had at least one RBI.

After a scoreless first inning, Valparaiso took a 2-0 lead in the second off of a two-run home run from Mollie Lindeman.

The Crusaders didn't hold a lead for long however, as Wisconsin logged 10 unanswered runs in the third and fourth inning to seal the win in 4.5 innings. After Valpo went scoreless in the top of the third, UW brought in three runs to take a 3-2 lead.

Van Abel started off the Badgers' scoring with an RBI single, bringing Christner. Mersch reached on a throwing error by the short stop to bring home Van Abel and give the Badgers two runs, then Chloe Miller doubled to right field for an RBI and a 3-2 UW advantage.

Wisconsin continued piling on runs in the fourth inning as the Badgers recorded seven runs in the bottom of the inning to seal the victory. Tancill slammed a three RBI triple to left field to give UW a 6-2 lead. Van Abel followed with a single, then Mersch doubled up the middle for two RBI which gave Wisconsin an 8-2 edge.

Miller extended the Cardinal and White's lead to 9-2 with an RBI single to right field, and an RBI single from freshman Samantha Arents gave UW a 10-2 advantage. The Crusaders couldn't respond in the top of the fifth and the run-rule ended the game in 4.5 innings.

Wisconsin dominated from the beginning in game two, topping the Crusaders 11-2 and outhitting Valparaiso 10-2 in 4.5 innings. UW's 11 RBI is a season-high for Wisconsin as eight Badgers recorded at least one RBI.

Miller tallied a career-high three runs, while junior Stefanni LaJeunesse recorded a career-high two walks. Van Abel hit her first triple of the season and Tancill tallied her second of the year.

UW jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning, as Mersch scored as the pitcher walked in a run. Miller gave UW a 2-0 lead on a fielder's choice and Jenkins came home on an error by the short stop to make it 3-0. LaJeunesse tallied the fourth run of the inning on the pitcher walking Tancill.

Miller slammed a home run, her first of the season, in the bottom of the second giving the Badgers a 5-0 lead.

UW brought in five more runs in the bottom of the third to make it 10-0. Tancill hit an RBI single up the middle and Van Abel followed with a triple brining in Tancill to give Wisconsin a 7-0 lead. Mersch recorded an RBI single to center field and Van Zeeland singled to left field for an RBI and made it 9-0 in favor of Wisconsin.

Freshman Brianna Flugaur came in to pinch hit for Arents and singled a bunt that brought in Miller and pushed UW's lead to 10.

Valparaiso got on the board in the fourth with two runs in the top of the inning. But an RBI single down the left field line by Miller extended the Badgers' lead to 11-2, and a scoreless top of the fifth from the Crusaders gave Wisconsin the run-rule victory.

Wisconsin continues Big Ten action this weekend, as the Badgers begin a three-day series vs. Iowa at Goodman Diamond. Action begins on Friday with a game against the Hawkeyes at 5 p.m. CT.