Riding the wave of a four-game winning streak, the UW softball team will open its Big Ten road schedule this weekend against Purdue and Indiana. After back-to-back doubleheader sweeps over North Dakota State and Loyola-Chicago, the Badgers (3-7 Big Ten, 17-19 overall) will try to use that momentum to snap their seven game Big Ten losing streak.
Every facet of the Badgers' game clicked this week. The offense was in full swing, scoring 26 runs in the four wins. Leading the way was senior catcher Boo Gillette, 6-12 in the series with four runs scored, while senior Anastasia Miller was 4-9 with two home runs and six runs batted in. Senior Katie Layne and sophomore Eden Brock have been dazzling on the mound, allowing only seven runs in the two doubleheaders.
\I've been pitching with more confidence this week,"" Brock said.
A big question about this weekend, however, is the health of star senior shortstop Kristin Zacher.
""We'll evaluate her Friday morning,"" said UW head coach Karen Gallagher. ""Backs are a tricky thing, she's an excellent player and we certainly need her in our lineup."" If Zacher cannot play, taking her place for the third straight game will be sophomore Athena Vasquez, who has performed well in Zacher's absence, going 3-6 with two RBIs.
First on the docket for the Badgers are the Purdue Boilermakers (6-4, 29-17-1). Their offensive attack is led by All-American senior second baseman Andrea Hillsey, who is batting .373 with six home runs and 24 RBIs. The pitching staff is stellar, with junior Diana LaRiva and sophomore Brooke Baker splitting the starting duties.
""Purdue's a really good team,"" Brock said.
""I'm just going to try and hit my spots and rely on my defense,"" Gallagher said. ""We have to play complete games and be consistent with our defense.""
Defense has been an Achilles heel for the Badgers this year, so their gloves will have to be sharp against the Boilermakers.
On Sunday, Wisconsin will travel to Bloomington, Ind. to take on the struggling Indiana Hoosiers (2-8, 12-31) in a doubleheader. Having lost 10 of their last 12 and eight straight in the Big Ten, the Hoosiers will certainly be looking to catch the Badgers on their heels and pull off an upset.
""For Indiana, a team that's struggling, you have to try and not relax too much,"" Brock said. ""Hopefully our offense will hit the ball well.""
Attempting to stop the Badger bats is Indiana's staff ace junior Megan Roark, who has nine of the Hoosiers' 12 wins and owns a 2.68 earned run average. The main threat to Wisconsin's pitching staff will be sophomore Tory Yamaguchi, who is batting .284 with seven home runs and nineteen RBIs.
With three wins this weekend, the Badgers can make it back to .500, which will bode well as the rest of their Big Ten schedule is on the road.
