MADISON, Wis. – The No. 25 Wisconsin softball team out-powered Iowa Saturday afternoon, run-ruling the Hawkeyes for the second day in a row, 9-1. Wisconsin (29-5 overall, 6-2 B1G) improved to 2-0 in the series against Iowa (15-17, 1-7) and will go for its second conference sweep of the season tomorrow.
 
What happens when you try to pitch around Kayla Konwent? Taylor Johnson happens. With Badgers on second and third, Konwent drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning. Johnson made the Hawkeyes pay with her first career grand slam, a blast to center that ricocheted off the scoreboard.
 
Wisconsin notched another run in the fourth when Tyra Turner scored on a Caroline Hedgcock groundout. That gave UW a 7-1 lead after four.
 
Stephanie Lombardo also made a statement with a home run in the first inning. Lombardo scored two with a blast to right center that put the Badgers on the board.
 
The Badgers' eighth run came in the fifth inning. Freshman Jolie Fish got things going with a double to right field and was able to reach third base on a wild pitch. Kelly Welsh sent her home with a sacrifice fly to put UW one run away from the run-rule win.
 
That one run came in the next inning via another Fish hit. Junior Jordan Little got on base with a walk and moved into scoring position with another Iowa wild pitch. Fish sent her home with a single up the middle for the second win of the series.

Sophomore Haley Hestekin pitched a gem of a game, recording a career-high nine strikeouts. She only allowed one run while holding the Hawkeyes to zero walks. 
 

Batting clean-up: Four notes to know

• Johnson's grand slam marks the second Wisconsin grand slam of the season and the first of her career.
• The Badgers tallied their 29th win of the season today to tie last season's total wins.
• Fish and Konwent both batted 1.000 in today's game. Fish was 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI while Konwent tallied one hit and one run with three walks.
• UW outhit the Hawkeyes 8-3.

 

On deck

Tomorrow Wisconsin and Iowa will conclude the weekend series at Goodman Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.