The red-hot Wisconsin softball team (6-8 Big Ten, 22-20 overall) continued to prove it will be a force to be reckoned with the remainder of the season, collecting a double-header sweep of Northern Iowa (8-13 Missouri Valley Conference, 20-21 overall) Wednesday at Goodman Softball Complex. Winners of nine of their last 10, the Badgers continued to rely on their clutch hitting and the reliable arm of sophomore Eden Brock to propel them to victories.
In the first game, seven different Badgers collected hits as UW jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and never looked back. After squandering a bases-loaded- no-out situation in the second, the Badgers got two quick outs in the third and it appeared as though the game would stay close at 1-0. However, the bats finally awoke and the Badgers ripped off four straight hits to break the game open.
\I think it's something we try to work on. I also think it has something to do with the individual up at the plate,"" said head coach Karen Gallagher of the team's recent clutch hitting with two outs. ""I think in that situation you just want to put the ball hard in play somewhere, and I think our kids are really adapting to that philosophy.""
Gallagher attributed the team's recent torrid pace at the plate to little more than increased comfort level.
""I think at this point we have played enough games, we've seen enough pitching,"" she said. ""The kids are relaxed and our team is contagious. Once one person gets the ball rolling, everyone seems to jump on board and that's what's been really nice about this year. Everyone is contributing.""
Senior catcher Boo Gillette has been hitting particularly well lately, raking opposing pitchers at a .519 clip with three home runs and seven RBIs over her last eight games. The senior had another solid outing Tuesday, going a combined 3-7 with three runs and two RBIs.
""I think everyone just knows that this is the end of our season and if we want to go to conference, we have to step up. Everybody is just trying to play their best game every game,"" Gillette said.
In the nightcap, the Badgers were held in check until the fourth inning when Gillette launched a team-leading 10th home run off UNI starter Liz Adams to get the team on the board. The Badgers would then take the lead on a solo shot by freshman first baseman Katie Hnatyk in the fifth, and would take the lead on a two-out single down the first base line by sophomore outfield Sam Polito.
Brock pitched strong in both games, starting the first game and giving up only one run in five innings pitched, and then coming in after a solid performance by senior Katie Layne in the second game to close it out.
""She's just so confident out there; she just came in and got the job done,"" Gallagher said of Brock. ""Our job is to play defense behind her. We didn't do the best job, but we played well enough to win the game.""
Both Gallagher and her senior captain know the Badgers are going to have to pick up their defense if they hope to become a complete team going into the Big Ten Tournament. ""We have to be consistent, we can't be making four errors again,"" said Gallagher. ""We need to play good defense, get consistent pitching and hitting. I think when we do that, we win ball games.""
