RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Wisconsin softball team split in action on the second day of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with a 2-1 win against North Carolina State and a 5-0 loss to Louisville in its first game of the day.

Senior Taylor-Paige Stewart was a force to be reckoned with in the second game of the day, dealing out eight strikeouts against North Carolina State. She pitched a complete game and only allowed two hits and one run in 99 pitches.

Stewart had some help from her offense in the third inning as UW posted two runs off of one hit. Sophomore Kelsey Jenkins walked to lead off the inning and then advanced to second when Ashley Van Zeeland grounded out. A pair of errors allowed Chloe Miller to get onto second and Jenkins to score the Badgers' first run.

Junior Sara Novak stepped up to the plate with two outs on the board and delivered. She shot a hit straight into right field that plated Miller for the second run giving UW a 2-1 lead. NC State's lone run came off of a home run by Sommer in the bottom of the second inning.

From then on the strong Wisconsin defense handled the Wolfpack as Stewart dealt three strikeouts in the bottom of the third. UW finished off the game by forcing NC State to leave one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh inning as Stewart clinched the final strikeout.

The Wisconsin softball team fell 5-0 to Louisville in its first game of the day. The Cardinals outhit the Badgers 11-1 giving them the upper hand in the game.

UL got on the board immediately in the top of the first period off of one hit and one error. Sidney Melton, who was a hit by a pitch from Stewart, advanced to third on an obstruction call. Maryssa Becker grounded out but brought in Melton for the first score.

Louisville put another run on the board in the third inning after Becker reached on a fielder's choice that let Morgan Meyer come in for a run.

A quick but effective fifth inning allowed Louisville to bring in two more runs off of four hard hits. The Cardinals led off with back-to-back singles and clinched a run when Melton singled to center plating Michala Riggle.

They scored again when Becker doubled down the right field line and allowed Melton to cross the plate but Becker was called out when Brooke Mann, Melanie Cross and Kelsey Jenkins connected for the third out.

It was another quick 1-2-3 inning by the Badgers in the bottom of the fifth before Mariah Watts came in to pitch for Stewart in the sixth inning. UW allowed the last run from Louisville in the top of the sixth inning when Hailey Smith, who reached on a fielder's choice, took advantage of a wild pitch to give Louisville a 5-0 lead.

Kirsten Stevens came in to relieve Watts in the top of the seventh inning, only allowing one hit and forcing the Cardinals to strand two runners. UW forced two groundouts and clinched the other out on a fielder's choice.

The Badgers started to get a spark going in the bottom of the seventh inning after senior Ashley Van Zeeland walked to put the Badgers on base for just the second time all game. Junior Chloe Miller sliced a single down the left field line to move Van Zeeland up one with no outs on the board. The next two Badger bats were unable to get anything going after flying out to left field and center field, respectively.

Senior Macy Oswald, who came in earlier in the game to pinch hit for Kelly Welsh, found herself on the basepath from a fielder's choice. But with the bases loaded, sophomore Samantha Arents struck out swinging and the Badgers took their third loss of the season and second of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The Badgers close play at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with an 11:30 a.m. (CT) rematch against North Carolina State that will be broadcasted live on ESPN 3.