The Wisconsin softball team (5-13) looks to get back to its winning ways this weekend in the Coach B Classic at the University of Southern Illinois-Carbondale.
Wisconsin comes into the tournament on the heels of a six-game losing streak, which includes dropping all five games of the Mayfair Tournament in Long Beach, Calif., last weekend. Opponents outscored the Badgers 32-10 over the five games. Wisconsin is now 0-6 against teams from California.
Fortunately, the Badgers get to start anew, facing a trio of schools from Illinois, including two games with the No. 19 Salukis of Southern Illinois, the host team of this weekend's tournament. Wisconsin will also face the Westerwinds of Western Illinois and the Cougars of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
The Badgers will face an opponent similar to themselves in Western Illinois (4-7). After winning four of their first six games, the Westerwinds have lost five straight. In a tournament in Minneapolis earlier this year, Western Illinois took two straight games from the host Golden Gophers, but lost its next four, including a game against the Drake Bulldogs, a common Badger opponent.
Both Wisconsin and Western Illinois come into the tournament looking to end losing streaks. The Badgers will look to capitalize on the Westerwinds' inconsistency and get their own tournament—and season—on the right track as the two teams face off in the first game Saturday.
The Badgers will face a tough competitor in Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (11-4). The Cougars dominated tournaments in Louisiana and Georgia during February, winning eight of its first nine games, culminating in a 10-game winning streak spanning from Feb. 6 to 21. But the Cougars showed their true strength by splitting a pair of games with the No. 12 Missouri Tigers this past Wednesday.
Still, the Badgers will face their toughest opponent twice in the Salukis (13-1). The Salukis have a formidable lineup, with five players batting above .300, and one player hitting above .400 in junior Alicia Garza.
Southern Illinois-Carbondale has also had many common opponents with the Badgers. The Salukis have beaten the likes of Long Beach State, Oregon State and Cal State Northridge—all teams that have defeated Wisconsin—in impressive fashion, collectively outscoring the three teams 12-2. And the Salukis' only loss of the season came at the hands of the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, who shut out the Badgers 8-0 Feb. 14.
If the Badgers want to give themselves a chance to win their games against Southern Illinois-Carbondale, Wisconsin pitching must produce solid starts. The Salukis get the majority of their run production in the second and third innings of games, scoring 39 of their 70 runs this season in those two innings. Badger junior Letty Olivarez and senior Leah Vanevenhoven will look to bring their top games to the circle against the Salukis.
Wisconsin begins tournament play Saturday with an early afternoon game against Western Illinois and a late afternoon game with Southern Illinois-Carbondale. UW then plays two more games Sunday, with a morning meeting against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and a rematch with the Salukis at noon.
