FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Wisconsin softball team improved to 18 wins on the season and continued a nine-game winning streak with a second-day sweep over Maine and Colorado State. UW (18-2) run-ruled Maine, 15-5, before defeating the host team, Colorado State, 8-1.

The Badgers made up for leaving the bases loaded in the first inning by taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Freshman Kayla Konwent started the bats swinging in the leadoff spot in the top of the second, sending a double to right center. With fellow freshman Heather Rudnicki in to pinch run for Konwent and two outs on the board, junior Kelsey Jenkins was walked to help push Rudnicki into scoring position.

Senior Chloe Miller did what she does best in hard-pressure situations, slashing a single through the middle to score both runners and give Wisconsin the 2-0 edge.

But three was the lucky charm for the Badgers, who absolutely exploded putting up eight runs off of five hits in the top of the third inning for a stealthy 11-0 lead. Sophomores Stephanie Lombardo and Melanie Cross were both walked to lead off the inning but another clutch hit from Konwent loaded up the bases. A sacrifice fly from Samantha Arents that scored pinch runner Gabby Scherle clinched the first of many runs for the Badgers.

Jenkins was walked to juice the bases once again for Miller, who responded once again but this time with a two-RBI double (5-0). Junior Brooke Wyderski got in on the action by smashing her first of three home runs on the day far over the left field fence scoring three runs to give UW an 8-0 edge.

Despite having two outs on the board, the Badgers weren't backing down yet and followed up Wyderski's dinger with back-to-back hits. Senior Sara Novak ripped a double to right field. Lombardo matched her teammate's dominance in the inning as she blasted a homer to center field to cap off the 11-0 advantage after two and a half innings.

Maine responded with two runs in the bottom of the third off of three hits. But once again, the Badger bats fired off in the fourth inning with another four runs off of two hits. Arents led off with a single through the right side and then both Jenkins and Miller were walked to again load the bases. A double to left center from Novak clinched two more runs for UW and then she scored on an error in the next at bat for a 15-2 lead. The Black Bears pulled in three unearned runs but it wasn't enough to deter the run-rule victory for the Badgers.

The Badger bats stayed alive for their 8-1 win over Colorado State right after. UW scored in all but two of the seven innings against Colorado State.

Wyderski had herself a day, tallying two more home runs in her first two at bats and earning three RBI against the Rams. Miller matched her RBI from the first game by adding four against CSU off of four hits.

After Wyderki's solo moon shot gave UW the 1-0 lead after the first inning, Arents continued the scoring with a single to right center that brought in Heim. Miller added a homer of her own in the top of the third to put the Badgers back up by one after CSU's Amber Nelson knocked a homer over the left field wall. Wyderski followed suit with her third and final dinger of the day.

It was all Miller and Wyderski again in the fourth inning, bringing in two more runs to extend the Badgers' lead to 7-1. Miller capped off the scoring in the top of the sixth on an RBI double that scored Kelly Welsh.
 
NOTES TO KNOW:
-The Badgers' eight runs against Maine in the third inning tied the school record for runs in the third inning.
-Wisconsin's 15 runs vs. the Black Bears is the third-highest amount of runs the program has scored in a single game. The most was 17 against North Dakota in 2014.
-Novak's two doubles against Maine tied the second-highest mark for doubles in a game.
-Miller leads the Badgers in nine categories: Batting average (.540), slugging percentage (.952), on base percentage (.608), runs (22), hits (34), RBI (24), doubles (10), triples (2) and total bases (60).
-Miller's four hits tied Kelsey Jenkins (Minnesota 4/12/16) for the second-most hits in a game vs. CSU.
-Miller also notched a new season high with three runs against Maine.
-Kelsey Jenkins also put up a season-high three runs against the Black Bears.
-Kayla Konwent put up a season-high two hits against the Black Bears while Sara Novak tallied a season-high three RBI against Maine.
-Brooke Wyderski tallied season highs in hits and homers against the Rams, as well as a season high in total bases.
-Kelly Welsh recorded a season-high two runs against the Rams.
-Kirsten Stevens continued her flawless 7-0 record after retiring four Black Bear batters.
-Freshman Kaitlyn Menz improved to a 10-2 record after throwing a complete game against Colorado State and striking out five Rams. CSU's home run was the first Menz has given up in her career.

DETAILS FROM THE DUGOUT:
"I think the team came out really determine. Last night we gave them some time for a break and they wanted to have film review. On their own, they are very driven and motivated. I think the team's excited to see how good we can be and they're challenging themselves to work harder. You can see that when they're watching film and talking about game plans on their own on a Friday night. That focus showed in how we approached our offense.

"I think we've got some good leadership and the team wants to be good. We're not a finished product yet and there's still a lot of learning of to happen but we're really proud of the interest and curiosity on how to become a better ball club.

"Really good teams find a way to sweep and it's incredibly hard to beat a team multiple times. Good teams can win a series but great teams can take all the games and we've put ourselves in a position to at least have a shot at it so that's what I'm proud about."
-Head Coach Yvette Healy

UP NEXT:
The Badgers close tournament play with rematches against Maine (10 a.m. CT) and Colorado State (12:30 p.m.) on Sunday.