By Joe Skurzewski
THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Wisconsin softball team's meeting this weekend with Ohio State tells a tale of two teams whose seasons have gone in opposite directions. For the Buckeyes, a Big Ten conference title is not far from sight, and a postseason run is palpable. For the Badgers, the search for consistency, and victory, continues.
Wisconsin (1-7 Big Ten, 12-30 overall) will host No. 15 Ohio State (9-1, 33-6) this Saturday and Sunday at the Goodman Softball Complex. Wisconsin enters the weekend on an eight-game losing streak, including two losses on Wednesday at the hands of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Badger junior hurler Letty Olivarez said that the team has struggled with getting out of the current losing streak.
""We talk about it all the time and how we really just want to do well,"" Olivarez said. ""We want to just come out there and play and show people what we have,"" Olivarez said.
Wisconsin head coach Chandelle Schulte said in order for the Badgers to beat a caliber team like Ohio State, they must not dwell on their recent misfortune and remain positive.
""We just say that eventually you've got to win because the odds are against you,"" she said.
Schulte put a positive spin on this weekend's meeting with Ohio State.
""We talked about Ohio State and how well they're playing, and the odds [are] eventually they're going to have to lose, so why not make it this opportunity,"" Schulte said.
The Buckeyes come into Madison on a nine-game winning streak, including two recent victories over Big Ten rival Illinois, a team that swept the Badgers earlier this month. Ohio State currently sits atop the Big Ten with Northwestern, who will come to Madison in early May for the Badgers' season finale.
The junior trio of Sam Marder, Tony Haddad and Whitney Cooper, as well as freshman Alicia Herron, have greatly attributed to Ohio State's potent offense. All four players have batting averages above .300. Cooper hit a clutch two-run home run in one of Ohio State's victories against Illinois. Marder hit a grand slam in the very same game.
""We know that they're going to attack early,"" Olivarez said. ""They're really aggressive hitters, so we're just going to try to stay on the corners.""
In addition to the Buckeye offense, Wisconsin will face a solid Ohio State pitching staff. Juniors Megan Miller, Lindsay Bodeker and senior Kim Reeder have thrown every pitch for the Buckeyes this season. All three pitchers have ERAs below 2.50, and the trio has nearly doubled the number of complete games that their opponents have thrown this season.
Ohio State's pitchers have a mere four saves this season, all by Bodeker. But because the Buckeye offense builds such insurmountable leads so often, save chances for Buckeye pitchers have become rare.
""They have the best pitching combination in the league,"" Schulte said. ""They've always held their own, but with this pitching now it's kind of put them over the [edge] and they have a tremendous amount of confidence in themselves and they hit the crud out of the ball.""
However, Schulte said that her team should be well prepared for Ohio State, as other teams on the Badgers' schedule such as Michigan and Northwestern are comparable to the Buckeyes in talent.
""They're no better or worse than anybody we've played,"" Schulte said.
The Badgers and Buckeyes will face off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Goodman Softball Complex, with game two slated for Sunday at 2 p.m.
