CHICAGO – The Wisconsin softball team had two dominant run-rule victories in its doubleheader against Detroit at the DePaul Softball Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. The Badgers defeated the Titans, 8-0, in the first game before topping Detroit, 10-1, in the series finale.

Wisconsin (14-11) put up a total of 18 runs on the day compared to the Titans' lone run off of a solo home run shot in the second game.

Wisconsin outhit Detroit 7-3 in the first game and 11-3 in the second game.

Junior Sara Novak paced the Wisconsin offense, recording three RBI in each game for a total of six in the doubleheader. She also went 4-for-5 from the plate with a pair of doubles.

Wisconsin's offense exploded in the first inning of the opening contest, scoring five runs off five hits in the initial frame. The Badgers hit three back-to-back singles after a groundout to start the game. Chloe Miller, Kelsey Jenkins and Novak each knocked in a single and loaded the bases for sophomore Samantha Arents, who was walked to bring in a run. Freshman Melanie Cross stepped up and blasted a single through the middle to plate two more runs. And in a big inning for the freshman class, Kelly Welsh followed suit with a single to score UW's final two runs of the inning.

Junior Kirsten Stevens retired the next three Titans batters in order off a foul out, strikeout, pop up, giving the Badger offense another opportunity to bring in some more runs. Back at the top of the order in the top of the second, Van Zeeland started the inning with a walk but went out at second as Jenkins reach on a fielder's choice. Novak fired off her second hit of the day, a double to center field, to score Jenkins and give the Badgers a 6-0 advantage after two innings.

Detroit managed to put up one hit in both the top of the third and the fourth but the Badger defense forced them to strand the runner at first both times. The Badgers started the bottom of the fourth inning with back-to-back groundouts but quickly turned things around after Jenkins reached by an error. Jenkins stole second and Miller subsequently walked leaving two on at first and second for Novak. In her third at bat of the day, Novak ripped her second double of the day to left field to score Jenkins and Miller. Novak's pair of doubles on Tuesday marked the third time this season a UW hitter recorded multiple doubles in a single game.

With an 8-0 score headed into the fifth and final inning, freshman Angela Borrow came in relief for Stevens and finished the game allowing just one hit in the inning and no runs.

Stevens picked up her fifth win of the season pitching four innings and allowing just two hits.

Novak's three hits in the game set a single-game season high for the team but was matched by Jenkins, who collected three hits in the second game of the doubleheader.

The Badgers opened up the second game with an explosive first inning like the series opener, tabbing five runs off of three hits. Van Zeeland led off with a walk and was followed up by a single from Jenkins. Both runners advanced on a passed ball while Miller walked. Novak was hit by a pitch to plate the first run and keep the bases loaded for Arents. The freshman drove a single to center field that plated Miller and Jenkins. Another passed ball moved up Novak and Arents to third just in time for Cross to rocket an RBI double to center field to plate Novak. One more passed ball allowed for Arents to score and give Wisconsin a 5-0 lead after the first.

The Titans led off the second inning with a home run, but Wisconsin came back with an answer in the bottom of the second, putting up two more runs off of three hits from Jenkins, Arents and Cross.

UW sealed the win in the bottom of the third inning as senior Macy Oswald led off with a powerful double to right field. Senior Katie Christner came in to pinch run for Oswald as Van Zeeland walked and Jenkins singled up the middle. With the bases loaded once again, Miller smashed a single to right field to score Christner and keep the bases at full for Novak. Novak put up her fourth hit of the day to clinch the final two runs for the 10-1 triumph.

Senior Taylor-Paige Stewart won her eighth game of the season in the game, pitching four inning and just allowing two hits and one run. She also struck out five Titans and walked one.

Wisconsin is back in action as it opens conference play against Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan, on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT.