MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin softball team won the first game of the series against the University of Iowa with a 3-0 shut out, victory at Goodman Diamond. 

Although the Iowa Hawkeyes (30-25, 10-11) loaded the bases in the top of the first inning off of two hits and a Badger (25-19, 10-10) error, Wisconsin set the tone of the game and got the crowd fired up while clearing the bases with a double play.

Following the two-out putout into the bottom half of the inning, Katie Keller ripped a double, her twelfth of the season, to grab the first Wisconsin hit of the game. Brooke Kuffel put the ball in play not long after and Keller scored on an error by the Iowa shortstop, allowing Kuffel to advance to second. Taking advantage of another miscue from the Hawkeye defense, Marytherse Nevin, pinch-running for Kuffel, was able to score at home after being overthrown at third during a successful effort to steal a base.

In the bottom of the third inning, Keller hit her second shot of the game with a hit to left center. Kayla Konwent followed that up with a single of her own up the middle, however, both Badgers were stranded on base.

The KK duo, Katie Keller and Kayla Konwent continued to terrorize the Hawkeyes, when in the bottom of the fifth, Keller roped another double to left center and put herself into scoring position for Konwent. Konwent then came up and hit another single, this time to left field, to score Keller and give Wisconsin the 3-0 advantage. 

The offense came alive when it needed to, but it was the defense that secured the win for the Badgers as the team completed three double plays through the first four innings to keep the Hawkeyes off the board. 

Maddie Schwartz (10-12) was part of the solid defensive showing as she threw a gem of a game, pitching seven complete innings and allowed the visiting team just five hits in the shutout. 

"Batting Cleanup" - 

• With the two doubles hit tonight, Katie Keller now has thirteen on the year and 85 on her career, six away from the most all-time in NCAA history.

• Maddie Schwartz now has three shutouts on the season.

• Katie Keller and Kayla Konwent accounted for all of the Badgers offensive, tallying all five hits. Keller led the charge with a 3-for-3 performance while Konwent with 2-for-3.

Up Next: The Badgers will continue the series against Iowa tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. game at Goodman before concluding the series on Sunday while celebrating the seniors at 1:00 p.m. CT.