The Wisconsin softball team notched a thrilling victory Wednesday against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, breaking an eight-game Big Ten losing streak. The Badgers managed to bring all components of their game together, with stellar pitching, solid defense and clutch hitting.
Their reward? A doubleheader with the No. 16 Michigan Wolverines this weekend, a team on an eight-game Big Ten winning streak that is vying for a conference title.
Wisconsin (2-10 Big Ten, 13-33 overall) enters the weekend on the heels of splitting its doubleheader with Minnesota. The Badgers lost the first game 4-0 but came back to win the second game 2-1, when freshman Karla Powell hit a game-winning walk-off infield single in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Michigan (8-2, 32-9) comes into Madison having swept a pair of games from Illinois last weekend, outscoring the Illini 16-5 in the two contests.
Wisconsin pitchers will face a strong Michigan lineup. Eight of the Wolverines' top ten hitters have batting averages above .250, with three batters hitting .300 or better. The Badgers will look to shut down Michigan freshman Amanda Chidester, who leads her team in batting average, hits, triples, RBIs and slugging percentage.
Freshman Bree Evans and junior Angela Finley will also pose threats at the plate for Wisconsin pitchers. Chidester and Evans lit up Illini pitchers last weekend, recording five and four hits, respectively, in the two games combined.
The health of Wisconsin's pitching staff will impact the Badgers' play this weekend. The durability of senior LeahVanevenhoven's arm after pitching two complete games, junior hurler Letty Olivarez's health, and whether or not sophomore pitcher Kristyn Hansen can fill innings if needed will play into Wisconsin's success against the Wolverines.
Vanevenhoven showed optimism for the weekend, citing the Badgers' solid play against Ohio State and Minnesota.
""If we can get the pitching, and if our fielders are behind us, we'll be good,"" she said.
The play of two Badger sophomores, Jennifer Krueger and Dana Rasmussen, will also affect Wisconsin's chances against the Wolverines. Krueger, who has rapidly evolved into the Badgers' best hitter this season, leads the team in six different offensive categories, including batting average (.315) and hits (40).
Rasmussen has started to make a name for herself behind the plate. Against Minnesota, Rasmussen caught three Gophers trying to steal second base, forcing two into rundowns. Making Rasmussen a catcher allowed Badger head coach Chandelle Schulte to play a strong glove in senior Theresa Boruta at third base, filling a weakness in the infield.
""I keep saying I think she has the natural ability for it…Her blocking's getting better,"" said Schulte of Rasmussen's performance behind the plate.
Wisconsin should expect to face junior Nikki Nemitz in the circle. With a record of 19-5, Nemitz has dominated this season, striking out 229 batters and producing an ERA of 0.78.
""They have some great pitching, but good news for us is we tend to hit better off of good pitchers,"" Schulte said.
Schulte looked to her lineup to diversify the offense, taking the burden off of players like Krueger and Boruta at the plate.
""Different kids are stepping up now, so it's not the same ones we keep relying on, and that needs to happen to win,"" she said.
The Badgers and Wolverines face off Saturday and Sunday at the Goodman Softball Complex at 2 p.m.
