MADISON, Wis.  -- The Wisconsin women's softball team was edged by the Iowa Hawkeyes, 4-3, in a game that came down to the wire at Goodman Diamond on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Hawkeyes capitalized on a big fifth inning to pick up the second game against the Badgers (24-7 overall, 3-5 Big Ten). Iowa (9-22, 3-5) outhit Wisconsin 10-4.
 
The Hawkeyes got things going right away as Angela Schmiederer singled to bring in Lea Thompson. Stephanie Lombardo's single served as the equalizer, however, as her hard hit up the left side brought home Brianna Flugaur to put the Badgers on the board in the second inning.
 
At the top of the fifth, the Hawkeyes took a three-run lead as Allie Wood singled to bring in Thompson for her second run of the game. With runners on first and second, Schmiederer flied out to center field but was able to bring in Kaitlyn Mullarkey. Wood made her way home after Taylor Libby reached on an error, but the Badgers halted the Hawkeyes after Kirsten Stevens struck out Claire Fritsch looking.
 
After a hot start to the fifth frame by Iowa, Wisconsin retaliated with a two-run inning of their own. Gabby Scherle started on a high note by singling on a bunt and stealing second. With two outs, Kelsey Jenkins rose to the occasion and fired off a two-run home run to cut Iowa's lead to 4-3.
 
Following a scoreless sixth inning, Kaitlyn Menz subbed in and struck out three Hawkeyes right away to start the seventh but the Badgers couldn't complete the comeback.
 
The Badgers will close out the series against Iowa at Goodman Diamond tomorrow at 1 p.m. (CT).
 
Notes to Know:
-Kirsten Stevens pitched 6.0 innings before Kaitlyn Menz came in relief for the final inning. Stevens threw six strikeouts, a team conference-season high, and allowed three earned runs.
-Menz threw 10 pitches in her first career relief appearance.
-Kelsey Jenkins hit her fifth home run of the season, batting in a team-leading two runs to tie her season high. She also tied her season high five total bases.
-Wisconsin struck out eight time, marking a new conference season high.
-The Badgers stole two bases, a conference season high.
-1,203 fans were in attendance at Goodman Diamond.

Details from the Dugout:
On her home run:
"Gabby Scherle comes in off the bench and puts a bunt in play, and that turns the momentum in the game for us, to have someone that doesn't usually get that many at bats at games and then comes in and drops a sweet bunt and is able to beat it out. We've been battling all weekend and we knew that with three innings left we had to get three runs somehow, can't say I was trying to hit the ball out and when the wind is blowing out to left field I like to hit the ball that way so it was a solid contact after getting all those foul balls. I was looking at Coach Z at first base and I just thought 'strong arm, strong arm, why am I weak?' and the 3-2 count is one of my favorite counts to hit out of, so any ball in play is what I was looking for. Having Chloe [Miller], Brooke [Wyderski] and Sara [Novak] behind me gives me more confidence to swing bigger because I know that they can get it done behind me as well."
 
On Doocy's pitching:
"She [Doocy] has a nice screwball, right rise ball and so we just have to hit the drawing board better and prep for that because we could potentially see her tomorrow but we can't think about it too much. She threw a great game, nothing to take away from her, but we're going to work on putting more balls in play and how can we hit our pitch and not hitting her pitcher's pitches, so that's our plan for tomorrow."

-Junior Kelsey Jenkins

On Iowa's performance:
"I give all my credit to Iowa, I really thought they won that game. They played well, they hit well and did a really nice job pitching--that's a talented freshman."
 
On Iowa's hitting:
"They put up the hits though, and when they put up 10 on you I think that says a lot. They came ready and they just found a way, they gutted it out and they put the hits up but we didn't."
 
On the Badgers performance at the plate:
"She had some good spin and we had a little bit of a tough time tracking her spin. We did what we wanted when we had the tying run come to the plate in the seventh, and so kudos to KJ going yard in the fifth just to give us the chance and make it a one-run game. And for Kaitlyn [Menz] to put a zero up there in the seventh, that was awesome."
 
On what the Badgers can take away from today:
 "I think they have a lot of fight, that's what the Big Ten is. It's such a good conference and they battle. I was really proud of Gabby Scherle, the walk-on from Iowa to come off the bench and get a hit and stolen base and score a run and make a diving catch is awesome to see. Brianna Flugaur, another walk-on, coming in, stealing a base and scoring a run so we're getting some good production. I think with the heart of our lineup, though, they stifled us. They won that one, but at least we get another chance tomorrow."
 
Head Coach Yvette Healy