As the Wisconsin softball team (1-5 Big Ten, 12-24 overall) practiced Tuesday in preparation for their Wednesday doubleheader, the players carried themselves with a mild sense of urgency. The Badgers dropped a pair of games to conference rival Illinois last weekend, leaving them in a tie for seventh place in the Big Ten.
The Badgers will face off against Northern Iowa (8-5 Missouri Valley, 24-13 overall) Wednesday, looking to get back on the winning track.
Northern Iowa brings a losing streak of its own into Madison. The Panthers enter Wednesday's competition on short rest, after playing a doubleheader against the Creighton Bluejays. Northern Iowa struggled against a talented Creighton pitching staff which allowed only one Panther run over two games.
Head coach Chandelle Schulte had her team doing various offensive drills Tuesday, many of which fell under their usual practice repertoire. However, the coach made sure to have her players work on different facets of their offensive game in preparation for meeting Northern Iowa's pitchers.
Schulte spent extra effort working with sophomore pitcher Dana Rasmussen on hitting outside pitches. Rasmussen, who has been used largely as a pinch runner this season, saw considerable playing time against Illinois.
""Right now it's kind of a hard thing for me, but I'm working on it,"" Rasmussen said.
""She hasn't had as many opportunities, so she's going to be behind in that respect,"" Schulte said.
If Wisconsin pitchers want to get the team back on the winning track, they will have to shut down a trio of Northern Iowa juniors in outfielders Megan Machovec and Rachel Gerking, and first basemen Jen Larsen, as well as freshman infielder Mackenzie Daigh. The quartet of hitters comprises the heart of the Panther lineup, accounting for 163 of the team's 300 hits and 88 of the team's 176 RBIs.
But the challenge that Badger hurlers will face Wednesday goes beyond these four players. Northern Iowa has a potent lineup from top to bottom.
""There are some deceiving good hitters at the end of the lineup in addition to the start of that lineup, and we're prepared for everyone and we're not taking any hitters lightly,"" sophomore hurler Kristyn Hansen said.
With the potent Panther offense, Schulte said that the Badger lineup must capitalize off of a weak Northern Iowa pitching staff.
""For us, it will be about taking care of our opportunities once we get on, and then taking advantage of their pitching,"" Schulte said.
To come out with a successful result on Wednesday, Wisconsin must improve its offense, which scored two runs in two games last weekend against Illinois.
""It's something that we've got to fix,"" Schulte said.
The Badgers should expect to face Northern Iowa's Larsen in the circle. The junior leads the team with a 13-6 record and an ERA of 1.77. No member of Northern Iowa's pitching staff aside from Larsen has an ERA below 3.00.
Amid scouting reports and statistics, Schulte said that the Badgers need to focus on their own game.
""I don't really think our opponent matters right now,"" she said. ""It's all about us.""
The Badgers and Panthers will face off at 4 p.m. at the Goodman Softball Complex, with game two slated to start at 6 p.m.
