The Wisconsin softball team looks to rebound against Northern Illinois Wednesday after a sweep at the hands of Michigan. The Badgers have lost 13 out of their last 14 games and will look to find more offense after earning just one hit in six innings against Michigan's Jordan Taylor.
Northern Illinois is lead by Sophomore Andrea Colosimo, who is batting .290. The Huskies have a speedster of their own in Jenna Roberts, who leads the team with 18 stolen bases, the same amount as sophomore Jennifer Krueger of the Badgers. Pitching has been an issue throughout the entire season for the Huskies: no pitcher on the staff has an ERA better than 4.74.
The Badgers' hitting woes have played a vital role in their recent slump. Head coach Chandelle Schulte thinks the team's hitting has been better the last two weeks, but leaving runners on base has been a problem.
""They have been hitting better, they have been putting the ball in play a lot, [but] we need to plate more runs,"" Schulte said. ""Contact, putting the ball in play, letting the defense having to play against us.""
""It seems like we get runners on first and second, and they just stay there,"" Kreuger said. ""So if we get one more hit after that, we should be able to score more.""
Despite a low team batting average and difficulty scoring runs, Krueger has been one of the best hitters in the Badgers' lineup, batting .316 and leading the team in hits, runs and stolen bases.
""She's the kid that works hard and does the right thing. She's the first in line and the last one to leave,"" Schulte said of Kreuger.
Despite a disappointing season, the Badgers still believe they can turn their play around.
""They're learning, they're still interested, still talking about softball. But the real test is against Michigan State,"" the four-year coach says.
The Huskies are by no means a pushover, so Wisconsin must be sure not to look past them and focus on Michigan State. Northern Illinois has won four of its last five games, scoring 19 runs in its last three games, while the Badgers have only scored two in their last four.
When asked about playing a team with a weaker record and batting lineup than the usual Big Ten team, Schulte says the records are meaningless to the Badgers.
""Honestly, the records don't mean a thing. If you've watched us, you know that.""
The Badgers have had a tough time this season getting extra-base hits. Karla Powell, who leads the team in home runs, has been playing hurt with a torn labrum and a sprained ACL. The designated hitter says she will do all she can in the last two weeks of the season to win games.
""I'm trying to put the ball in play and move people. These last two weeks, I'm going to try to play as hard as I can.""
Senior pitcher Leah Vanevenhoven will most likely get the start Wednesday. Vanevenhoven stressed how important the last seven games are to her and her fellow seniors.
""Its crazy we only have seven games left. We want to go into the rest of the Big Ten season confident,"" she said. ""For our seniors, it's the last of the last. ""
Vanevenhoven said the Badgers learned not to underestimate teams when they lost to North Dakota earlier in the season. The Sioux were 2-19 before beating Wisconsin in March.
""Every game, we need to play our best,"" she said. ""We can't go there tomorrow thinking its going to be an easy win.""
