EAST LANSING, Mich. – Despite a tough rally back, the Wisconsin softball team fell in its first game of a doubleheader with Michigan State, 5-4, but bounced back in the series finale Saturday as the Badgers defeated the Spartans, 5-4, in the second game.

With Saturday's win over MSU, the Badgers (16-12 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) won their opening Big Ten conference series 2-1.

"To win any Big Ten series is a big deal but to do it on the road against a tough team like Michigan State makes it an even more exciting opening Big Ten weekend," head coach Yvette Healy said.

UW ended the day on a high note with a big 5-4 win as the Badgers outhit the Spartans 10-9.

The action started in the second inning as sophomore Samantha Arents led off with a single through the right side. Freshman Kelly Welsh hit a sacrifice bunt to move Arents to second just in time for freshman Brooke Man to put a hit through the middle. With runners at first and third, sophomore Brianna Flugaur shot a single to the pitcher to load the bases. Senior

Macy Oswald was walked to bring the first run in and keep the bases loaded.

Michigan State made a pitching change but sophomore Kelsey Jenkins blasted a two-RBI single to left field to extend UW's lead to 3-0 with just one out. Junior Chloe Miller capitalized on the situation and brought the remaining two Badgers off of the basepath as she fired a double to left field.

Wisconsin put up a total of five runs off of five hits in the top of the second inning.

MSU rallied back in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting up four runs off three hits and one error.

Freshman Ebonee Echols led off with a single to the pitcher for the Green and White and advanced to second on a Wisconsin miscue in the next at bat after Celeste Wood reached on a fielder's choice. McKenzie Long singled through the left side to score the first run for Michigan State but it was Lindsey Besson that gave UW a tough time. The Spartans' catcher blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall to cut the Badger advantage to one run.

Senior Taylor-Paige Stewart came in to relieve junior Kirsten Stevens and struck out the last batter swinging.

MSU put two runners on the basepath off of a single and hit by pitch in the bottom of the seventh but it was the Badgers' game to win. Oswald snagged a pop up to second for the first out and Jenkins orchestrated a double play that caught the runner at third before she sent it to Arents at first base for the final out of the game.

Stevens clinched her sixth win of the season and second conference win after pitching 5.2 innings and allowing eight hits and four runs, two of which were earned. She struck out two and walked none.

Stewart secured her third save of the year and has already tied the Wisconsin single-season record for saves. She also tied Andrea Kirchberg's program record for career saves with six.

"I think Taylor-Paige is just a pretty selfless senior," Healy said. "Like a lot of our seniors, they are about the team. I think this class came here wanting to make history and they are happy to do it in any little way that they can contribute. They're excited about their role and every part counts, so it's exciting to see Taylor-Paige embracing that and doing some great things for the team."

Michigan State got off to a hot start in the first game, putting up two runs in its first time at the plate.

After Lea Foerster walked, Ebonee Echols single and advanced on a two-base error that allowed Foerster to score. Echols came home after Celeste Wood flied out to center field and gave MSU the 2-0 advantage.

Wisconsin was able to get four hits through the first three innings but Michigan State was able to plate two more runs off two hits in the bottom of the third inning. Sarah Gutknecht doubled to score Foerster and Echols who were on base by a hit by pitch and single, respectively.

But Wisconsin had a response in the top of the fourth inning.

Arents led off with a single up the middle and senior Katie Christner came in to pinch run for her. Freshman Melanie Cross knocked out her second home run of the season to cut the Spartans' lead to 4-2.

The Badgers went down in order in the top of the fifth inning but the Spartans used two doubles in the bottom of the fifth inning to put their fifth run on the board.

Wisconsin led off the sixth inning with three consecutive singles from Arents, Cross and Welsh that eventually led Brianna Flugaur, who was in to pinch run for Arents, to score the Badgers' third run and cut the MSU lead to 5-3.

In the top of the seventh inning, Jenkins led off with a walk and advanced to second after Miller grounded out to third. Jenkins came home after Novak ripped a single up the middle to make it a 5-4 ball game but the Badgers couldn't get anything else going, abandoning both Novak and Cross on the basepath.

Stewart suffered her eighth loss of the season and moves to 8-8 on the season. Stewart pitched 6.0 innings and allowed eight hits and five runs, with four being earned. She walked one and struck out two.

Wisconsin is back in action in its home opener on March 30. The Badgers will play a doubleheader against South Dakota with first pitch set for 2 p.m.