After closing out a seven-game homestand Wednesday, the Wisconsin softball team will travel to Bloomington, Ind., this weekend to play its first road game since April 3 at Michigan State.
The Badgers (2-4 Big Ten, 22-15 overall) look to continue their recent success in Bloomington, where they will take on a Hoosiers squad (6-2, 24-15) that ranks second in the Big Ten. The Badgers, however, are feeling confident about their chances after coming off one of their best performances of the season.
Wednesday, the pitching duo of freshman Cassandra Darrah and sophomore Meghan McIntosh shutout South Dakota State, while the offense combined for 11 runs in the doubleheader.
Sophomore Whitney Massey says the Badgers will have an edge entering the series after going 5-2 during the seven game homestand.
""I think we have a lot of momentum going into this weekend,"" Massey said. ""I don't think that Indiana's expecting that.""
The Hoosiers, however, are coming off their own shutout Wednesday where they trounced Ohio State, 9-0 in game two of a doubleheader, after narrowly escaping the first game 3-2.
The first game was more characteristic of an Indiana team that has won most of its games this season by a small margin of victory.
UW head coach Yvette Healy believes that the Badgers will need persistence to keep themselves in the game and come out on top.
""I think we're going to have to get a little momentum,"" Healy said. ""If we can just stick with them, I think we'll be able to put some hits together late in the game.""
The Badgers will be put to the test as they face one of the best pitchers in college softball, Indiana's senior ace Morgan Melloh.
""Their pitcher is one of the best in the country,"" Healy said. ""I think we're going to have to work hard to be creative.""
Melloh is first in the Big Ten with 32 starts and 325 strikeouts. She has 20 wins, which is good enough for second place in the conference. Melloh ranks in the top five in nearly all statistical categories.
The Badgers, however, have a set of talented young pitchers to counter Melloh's attack.
In Darrah's last outing she threw a no-hitter through the first six innings and allowed just one hit in seven innings. McIntosh appears to save her best stuff for when runners are on. She has had a knack for getting out of jams unharmed, especially as of lately. In her last 17.1 innings of work, she has not allowed a run.
Darrah, who boasts an impressive 12-5 record, admits she has out-performed even her own expectations just a year out of high school.
""I didn't expect this much success,"" Darrah said. ""Hitters are a lot tougher, [than in high school] and I was used to striking people out a lot.""
The Badgers will rely on their young pitchers, sound defense and creative offense as they look to even their Big Ten record to 4-4 against a successful Hoosiers squad this weekend in Bloomington.
Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. while Sunday's is set for 11 a.m. Sunday's game will be aired on the Big Ten Network.
