MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin softball team put up a hard fight against a quality opponent but dropped both games of its doubleheader with No. 5 Minnesota (39-3, 13-1), falling 6-0 in a 12-inning opener before giving up a 12-1 decision in game two.

Wisconsin (27-10, 6-8) kept the Gophers in a defensive battle in game one as the matchup remained scoreless until the top of the 12th inning.

In the top of the third inning senior Kirsten Stevens came in to pitch after Minnesota put two on base. After throwing six consecutive balls, Stevens struck out MaKenna Partain to escape the bases-loaded situation.

Later, in the top of the eighth, senior catcher Chloe Miller ran down Ellie Cowger along the third base line and tagged her out to keep the Gophers scoreless in extras.

Minnesota's bats exploded in the 12th, scoring six runs in the top half of the inning. Wisconsin was able to put sophomore Kelly Welsh in scoring position in the bottom of the inning but the Gophers closed out the frame and took the 6-0 victory.

Minnesota kept the momentum rolling into the second game, putting up five runs in the first inning.

The Badgers held the Gophers scoreless for the next three innings before UM put up seven runs on seven hits in the top of the fifth.

Rookie pitcher Amber Fiser was on her way to her first career no-hitter heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before Wisconsin halted it with a pair of hits from junior Kelsey Jenkins and Miller.

Jenkins sent a single through the left side, advancing Welsh who reached on a four-pitch walk. Miller stepped up and doubled to left, scoring Welsh to make the score 12-1.
 
Notes to Know:
-Wisconsin is now 3-3 in extra inning and 1-3 against ranked opponents 
-The first game tied the longest game ever between Wisconsin and Minnesota with 12 innings. 
-The Badgers had a season-high 43 at bats, as well as season-high putouts (36), assists (18) and innings pitched (12). 
-Wisconsin also stole three bases in game one, a conference season high. 
-Kelsey Jenkins recorded a game- and season-high six at bats, as well as a season-high eight assists. 
-Sophomore Angela Morrow recorded her second career start in the first game of the doubleheader. 
-Sophomore Stephanie Lombardo recorded a career-high 14 putouts during the first game. 
-Chloe Miller recorded two doubles on the day, moving into sole possession of the second for the all-time career doubles record with 52. Miller has 14 doubles on the season, tied for the fifth-most in single-season records. With three hits, Miller is also fifth in career hits (202). 
-476 fans were in attendance at Goodman Diamond
 
Details from the Dugout: 
"I thought we gave them everything they could handle. I'm really proud of the group, it was a group effort from the mound and I thought we put together a great strategy with our pitchers. Angie Morrow gave us three solid innings and Kirsten Stevens threw the next three or four and then Kate (Menz) came into the seventh. I think we had multiple chances to win it and that's all you can ask for when you're playing the No. 5 team in the country and the top team in your conference. You just want the matchup and before you start winning the matchup, you have to get there and be in those opportunities. You can't replicate that for the young players and for a young pitcher like Kate Menz. You go into extras and figure out a way to win by being there enough times that you figure it out."

"I thought there was so much fight up and down the lineup. Sara Novak and Brooke Wyderski hitting the ball hard in the first game, Kelly Welsh at the bottom of the lineup. People stealing bases to have the winning run at second multiple times. I just thought our speed game was working and our pitching was great. So there were a lot of good things. Of course you want to walk away with the win and that's hard. We've been close as a group but it's just another step on the journey to getting there and it will help us get ready for Michigan."
-UW Head Coach Yvette Healy