EAST LANSING, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin Madison softball team came into the doubleheader against Michigan State winning 11 of its last 13 games. The Badgers extended that to 12 of the last 15 after splitting the day against the Spartans, winning 5-3 and falling in the second game, 8-3. 

The Badgers (14-9, 1-1) put runners in scoring position to start the first inning, however, a failed squeeze bunt attempt and two ground outs denied the chance to bring a Wisconsin runner across. The Spartans (9-12, 1-1) got things going early in the bottom of the inning with a double in the team's first at-bat and grabbed the early lead on an RBI single shortly after.

Wisconsin utilized smart base running in the third to tie the game at one. Skylar Sirdashney singled to shortstop to get on base and was able to advance to third on a groundout and walk. In a first and third situation, Kayla Konwent distracted the Spartans by getting in a pickle at first base, and Sirdashney stole home while the ball was on the opposite side of the field. 

Ellie Hubbard and Molly Schlosser both ripped singles in the fourth inning, but nothing came from the two hits. 

While looking for the go-ahead run, Brooke Kuffel gave hope to the Badgers with a single of her own in the top of the fifth inning. Sirdashney then continued her good day by smashing a 2-run home run off the Spartan scoreboard, her first of the year, to put the Badgers up 3-1. Katie Keller continued the inning with another single, and Ellie Hubbard proceeded to get hit by a pitch. Rylie Crane took advantage of the two runners on base and sent a 2-RBI double down the left field line to blow the game open for the Badgers, now up 5-1. 

Michigan State did not let the game fall out of reach as the home team responded with a double and two singles to keep the game close at 5-3. 

Both teams were hitless in the final two innings, and the score remained, giving the Badgers their first Big Ten win of the year with a final score of 5-3.

Maddie Schwartz (4-5) picked up her fourth victory of the season after coming into the game in the third inning. Schwartz allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of work.

GAME TWO

Maddie Schwartz started in the circle following her win in game one, and the Spartan bats challenged her immediately. The Spartans came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, starting with a double off the center field wall, followed by another rope off the left field wall, giving MSU an early 2-0 lead

In the third inning, a Spartans RBI double and an error by Wisconsin's defense doubled Michigan State's lead to 4-0.

Kayla Konwent showed her five-year experience and put the Badgers back in this game with a home run to start the fourth inning. A string of singles by Brooke Kuffel and then Molly Schlosser, who advanced to second on the throw, gave Christaana Angelopulos an opportunity to cut the Spartan's lead even further. Angelopulos delivered with a blooper in center field to score both Kuffel and Schlosser, and cut the lead to just one.

MSU doubled up the Badgers in the fourth and fifth innings, plating three runs on three hits, including a Spartan triple and home run between the two frames. 

Down 8-3 entering the top of the seventh, veteran leaders Katie Keller and Kayla Konwent singled to ignite a spark in the team's last frame. With a walk later on, the Badgers loaded the bases, but Molly Schlosser's line drive to shortstop was handled, and the Spartans claimed the game at 8-3.

"Batting Cleanup" 

• Seven Badgers hit a single in the second game. 

• Rylie Crane went 3-for-8 on the day with two RBI.

• Ellie Hubbard, Molly Schlosser, Rylie Crane, and Brooke Kuffel had a hit in each of the two games. 
   

Up Next: With inclement weather forecasted Saturday, the final game of the series will wrap up on Sunday, March 26, at 12:00 p.m. CT.