BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Head Coach Yvette Healy picked up career win No. 500 Saturday afternoon in the first game against Purdue Fort Wayne, shutting the Mastodons out 3-0. Healy is the winningest (.603) coach in Wisconsin softball history in her 13 seasons with the Badgers. 

Picking up where things left off a week ago, Wisconsin (8-6)  grabbed hold of an early lead against the Mastodons. Skylar Sirdashney was walked in the game's first at-bat, and Katie Keller sent her home right after with a double to right center. The Badgers went up 1-0 and kept that lead through six innings of play. 

The Badgers tallied just four hits in the game, but Kayla Konwent came up clutch in the sixth with a gap double to right center to score Keller who singled earlier in the inning. Molly Schlosser then sent a sac fly to the warning track to score Rylie Crane, the pinch-runner for Konwent, and the Badgers led, 3-0.

Although the team's offense was slow, Badger's pitcher Gabi Salo controlled the game from the mound. In just her second career start, the junior threw for 11 strikeouts in the seven-inning shutout. This was the Michigan native's second career start and second career win. Salo's previous best was six strikeouts against Villanova earlier this year. 

Head coach Yvette Healy has made a name for the Wisconsin softball program in her 13 seasons here. The DePaul alum has brought Wisconsin to six NCAA tournaments and holds a winning percentage of .603, the highest of any UW softball coach in the program's 26-year history. Healy now has 370 wins with the Badgers and looks to keep growing that number this season. 

GAME 2

Wisconsin continued its strong start at the Hoosier Classic in its second game against Purdue Fort Wayne, securing another win, 4-0. 

Maddie Schwartz received the game's opening pitch in the circle and made a significant impact quickly. In the first inning, the senior struck out the side for a quick one-two-three inning. Then, with the bases loaded and Purdue Fort Wayne in scoring position, Schwartz was able to get out of it clean. Wisconsin did not allow a run in the third either, despite the fact that the Mastodons were once again in scoring position.

Wisconsin was able to get on the board in the bottom of the third, thanks to a throwing error by Purdue Fort Wayne. Both Katie Keller and Kayla Konwent singled to get things going for the Badgers. Keller then crossed the plate following another throwing error forced by a Molly Schlosser's shot to short. 

The Badgers continued to progress in the next inning when Christaana Angelopolus hit an RBI single for her first hit of the season, scoring Peyton Bannon. Two successful bunts, both singles, for Rylie Crane and Skylar Sirdashney loaded the bases for Keller. Once again, Keller produced for the Badgers, hitting a sacrifice fly to score Angelopolus. Konwent then stepped up to the plate and singled for the second time in the game to bring in Crane. With this, Wisconsin grabbed hold of a comfortable 4-0 lead. 

To extend the lead in the sixth, Molly Schlosser ripped a double to left center, allowing Bannon to score with ease after she was walked earlier in the inning. 

Maddie Schwartz ended with five strikeouts, scattering three hits and two walks in the three innings she pitched. Paytn Monticelli came in for relief in the fourth inning and struck out seven batters in the fourteen she faced. The freshman gave up only two hits and didn't allow a single walk in win. The two combined for the second shutout of the day, winning 5-0. 

Batting Cleanup: 

• Eight Badgers had a single in the second game.

• Kayla Konwent went 3-for-6 on the day with a .500 batting average

• Gabi Salo, Paytn Monticelli, and Maddie Schwartz combined for 23 K's in two games.
   

Up Next: Wisconsin will prepare for its second day of the Hoosier Classic tomorrow, starting with IUPUI at 11:15 a.m., followed by Indiana University at 2 p.m CT.