The Wisconsin softball team improved their Big Ten record to 3-11 this weekend with two wins over Indiana.
The series began Saturday night as the Badgers overtook the Hoosiers 4-1.
Indiana started strong, gaining a 1-0 lead in the first inning. However, Wisconsin struck back in the bottom of the inning. Senior infielder Katie Soderberg led off and reached first on an error. Junior outfielder Jennifer Krueger laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first.
After two outs, freshman utility player Whitney Massey came to the plate with Soderberg on third and Krueger on second and singled to drive home the two runners. Junior outfielder Ashley Hanewich said the team took advantage of the skill differential.
""She was a weaker-level pitcher than what we have seen, so it was easier to adjust to her,"" Hanewich said.
The bottom of the second brought singles from senior pitcher Letty Olivarez and Krueger, with Olivarez managing to score off Krueger's hit to widen the lead to 3-1.
With one out in the fourth inning, freshman outfielder Kendall Grimm hit a single and advanced to second off a wild pitch. Hanewich drove a single to bring in Grimm and add the team's final run.
The Badgers went into the game Sunday afternoon with a lot of confidence and kept the bats going, grabbing another victory over the Hoosiers, this time shutting them out 8-0 in five innings. The game stands as Wisconsin's third shutout of the season and the second in Big Ten play.
""We beat them once. We were like, ‘Alright, let's get them again,'"" Hanewich said.
The Badgers had a big third inning. Hanewich led off with a double before Krueger grounded out to advance her to third. On a wild pitch, Hanewich slid in to home on a close call play that the first run for Wisconsin.
""It was a big play for us, and the momentum went our way,"" Olivarez said. ""We just really started picking it up after that.""
Freshman infielder Molly Spence then walked and freshman infielder Shannel Blackshear and Massey followed with singles. Olivarez walked, allowing Spence to cross the plate; and junior catcher Dana Rasmussen reached on a hit-by-pitch to score Blackshear and make the score 3-0.
A walk from Hanewich, a triple from Krueger and a groundout from Spence increased the Badgers' lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning.
The hits continued in the fifth inning for Wisconsin as Massey led off with a solo home run. Olivarez walked and then Hanewich slammed the first pitch she saw over the fence, ending the game 8-0.
Olivarez started the game as pitcher, and freshman Meghan McIntosh came in for relief in the third inning without giving up a hit.
""I just went after them. Letty just told me to take it to them; just throw,"" McIntosh said.
The two conference wins are certainly confidence boosters for the team.
""The past two days we've had so much fun. You can tell by the way everyone's playing,"" Spence said. ""They're playing loose and we all have confidence in ourselves.""
With just a few conference games remaining in the season, the Badgers want to keep their strong play going.
""Our defense has done really well lately, and our pitchers are coming around. We have all three aspects of the game, so we just need to keep pushing in all those areas and we'll be fine,"" Hanewich said.
""We're going into this stretch thinking: Do our best, push through and finish strong in conference,"" Spence added.
