The Wisconsin Badgers softball looks to continue its recent winning ways this weekend when it travels to Evansville, Ill., to take on Big Ten rival Northwestern.
The Badgers are coming off a weekend at home that saw the team earn a series sweep of the Indiana Hoosiers. With that sweep, Wisconsin has won eight of its past 12 games.
""Everything is finally coming together for us: pitching, hitting and fielding,"" freshman utility player Whitney Massey said. ""We're all playing together and everything is going smoothly. Our chemistry has clicked and we're playing really well.""
During this hot streak, the Badgers' offense has really been clicking. Over this stretch, the Badgers have averaged about 5 runs per game. For Wisconsin to finish out this season strong they will look to continue that production.
Freshmen infielder Molly Spence commented on how the Badgers have been able to find success at the plate.
""Hitting is contagious with this team, just like with any team,"" Spence said. ""When someone is able to spark our offense, we all start hitting; and that is where the production comes from.""
Massey said she believes the team's mentality in the box has helped contribute to their production.
""We're more relaxed at the plate,"" she said. ""We're starting to hit the ball where it is pitched instead of trying to do to much with everything. We've also been moving our runners around and getting our bunts down.""
Wisconsin has also been able to lean on the pitching of senior Letty Olivarez and freshman Meghan McIntosh. The performance of the two pitchers has been critical to Wisconsin's winning ways.
""The two of them compliment each other really well, so they have been a great combination for us this year,"" junior outfielder Ashley Hanewich said. ""Letty has been our ace all year, and Meghan has really been coming around lately now that she is finally back at 100 percent after her ACL injury.""
The Badgers were one of the youngest teams in the conference this season, with freshmen making up half the team. Those young players have the future of Wisconsin softball looking bright.
Two of the freshmen, Massey and Spence, talked about how the younger players have been able to blend with the rest of the team, and how that bodes well for next year.
""I think we're just going to get better,"" Massey said. ""Since the beginning, all eight of us freshmen have been able to click with the older girls, and we're only going to get stronger next year. We're already getting stronger.""
""Every game brings more experience. Every game we're looking to get a little better."" Spence added. ""Next year we have that year under our belts and next year it is going to look really good. The Wisconsin Badgers are on their way up.""
Wisconsin looks to build on its recent success this weekend when they hit the road to face Northwestern. The players talked about what it is going to take to come away with two wins in Evansville.
""We need to be able to keep their runners off base,"" Massey said. ""They have a few slappers and a couple big hitters that we need to keep off the bases. If we can do that and keep hitting like we've been hitting we'll pull it off.""
""Delaney is a bit of a wild pitcher,"" Hanewich said of Wildcat senior pitcher Lauren Delaney, whom the Badgers will face this weekend. ""But she throws really hard, so we need to attack her good pitches and lay off her wild ones.""
