LINCOLN, Neb. — The Wisconsin softball team closed out its regular season in exciting fashion, as the Badgers battled split a doubleheader with Nebraska after both games went extra innings. UW took the first game 6-4, but dropped the second game after a walkoff home run gave the Huskers a 6-5 win on Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The first game of the doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium lasted fourteen innings and nearly five hours, marking the second-longest game in program history for the Badgers (28-23-1 overall, 11-11-1 Big Ten).

"I'm really proud of the team to gut it out and beat the home team in extra innings," UW head coach Yvette Healy said. "To beat a team like Nebraska that doesn't lose very many games at home, I think that just shows a lot of heart. That was one of the best doubleheaders I've ever seen.

"I think that was the perfect tune up heading into the Big Ten tournament. To be on a big stage facing an outstanding opponent on the road in a tough environment in front of a lot of fans, that's the perfect way to prep us for the Big Ten tournament."

Despite tirelessly playing through six innings in the first game with no scoring since tying it up 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Wisconsin had just enough fuel to seal the deal and outlast the Huskers (32-18, 13-9) in the 14th inning.

With one out, junior Chloe Miller blasted a shot to right field. Junior Sara Novak was walked right after, but was tagged out at second base, as freshman Kelly Welsh reached on a fielder's choice that subsequently scored Miller to give UW the one-run lead. A powerful Samantha Arents double extended the lead by two runs and clinched the 6-4 win for the Badgers.

Wisconsin turned the game into a thriller in the top of the seventh inning when it tied the game up at 4-4 and brought in two runs despite no hits. With one out, senior Ashley Van Zeeland, sophomore Kelsey Jenkins and Miller drew consecutive walks. With the bases loaded, Novak was hit by a pitch, which brought in one run and kept the bases juiced. Welsh then reached on a crucial fielding error by the second baseman, which allowed Jenkins to score the tying run.

The Badgers were firing away right from the first inning of game one against Nebraska. Van Zeeland led the game off with a single to left center and moved to second after Jenkins was walked. Miller reached on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt that loaded up the bases for Novak. Novak then fired a single up the middle to put Wisconsin on the board first, 2-0.

Nebraska retaliated in the bottom of the frame after back-to-back walks put runners on for Mattie Fowler who laid down a sacrifice bunt to come within one, 2-1.

The Badgers only tallied two hits combined in the second and third innings after Oswald popped a hit in to the catcher in the second inning and Van Zeeland logged her second hit in her second at-bat in the third inning.

Junior Kirsten Stevens and the Wisconsin defense recorded consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the second and third innings. Nebraska was able to pull ahead in the fourth inning, however, after three hits and one error allowed the Huskers to score two runs and grab a 3-2 advantage. Nebraska extended its lead in the sixth inning off a hit and an error that helped them go up 4-2, but Wisconsin's clutch rally in the seventh inning was what forced the extra innings.

Senior pitcher Taylor-Paige Stewart came into the first game as a reliever in the fifth inning, but still pitched a career-high 10 innings and struck out four batters due to the day's extended action.

With four strikeouts, Stewart claimed sole possession of sixth place on Wisconsin's all-time career strikeouts list (432).

Van Zeeland led the Badgers with three hits in the first game, while Miller, Cross and Arents each hit a double. Recording her ninth double of the season, Cross now ranks seventh all-time in UW's freshman record book for doubles in a season.

Van Zeeland also led the Badgers with an impressive six assists in addition to four putouts, including a tough play in the shallow outfield with a runner in scoring position that pushed the game into the 10th inning.

After playing such a competitive first game, there was no doubt that the second game would be filled with just as much energy.

Wisconsin hit the gas pedal in the top of the second inning of the second game, as junior Taylor Berry — who entered the Badgers' lineup as the starting catcher — blasted her first career double to plate senior Katie Christner who got on base with a walk.

Nebraska had a response in the bottom of the third inning and claimed two runs off of three hits to give the Huskers a 3-1 lead.

In similar fashion to the first game, the Badgers did not go down without a fight. In the top of the fifth inning with one out that placed Jenkins at first on a fielder's choice, the stage was set for two of the Badgers' biggest power hitters to step up to the plate. They delivered.

Miller rocketed a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch to put her and Jenkins in perfect scoring position for Novak, who used a two-RBI single to knot the game with the Huskers, 3-3.

Welsh made a difficult catch in center field in the bottom of the seventh to help keep the game tied and move UW into extra innings for the second time of the day. Neither team could get anything going in the eighth inning, especially after a difficult double play by Van Zeeland, who dove to glove a lineout and tossed it to Oswald in midair for the final two outs.

Both teams had some fireworks stored up for the ninth and final inning — and 23rd of the day.
Oswald sliced a single up the middle with one out, but was caught at second as Van Zeeland came on base with a fielder's choice. Jenkins moved Van Zeeland up after she dinged a single of her own up the middle. With the third hit of the inning, Miller successfully brought in two runs for the Badgers and upped the lead to 5-3 headed into the bottom frame.

But unfortunately for Wisconsin, the second game didn't have quite the same favorable ending as the first game did for UW. It was Nebraska' MJ Knighten who played spoiler and hit a walkoff home run to clinch a 6-5 victory in the second game for the Huskers on senior day.

Stevens pitched a career-high eight innings in the loss for UW and gave up six runs off of nine hits.

Wisconsin begins postseason play with the 2016 Big Ten Tournament, which will be hosted by Penn State and runs May 12-14 at Beard Field in University Park, Pennsylvania.