SPORTS
Badger bats awaken in wins
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Also by Michael Bleach:
- UW takes on in-state rivals (April 23, 2008)
- Wisconsin to face contrasting styles this weekend (April 18, 2008)
- Switch pays off for 3rd baseman (April 15, 2008)
- Wisconsin splits series with Penn State (April 14, 2008)
- Badgers can't capitalize on opportunities (April 10, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Wisconsin splits series with Penn State (April 14, 2008)
- UW softball goes streaking (April 20, 2007)
- Softball earns sweep over Green Bay (April 24, 2008)
- Badgers set to play home opener (March 27, 2007)
- Polito carries hot bat into doubleheader (April 10, 2007)
by Michael Bleach
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay came to town for a doubleheader, and the Wisconsin softball team brought out the big bats to greet them. In two games, UW pounded 17 hits and scored 10 runs on their way to a two-game sweep.
“These are the two best games we have played all season,” head coach Chandelle Schulte said. “Regardless of the opponent, I have said all year that we have to play a complete game, and we just played two. … The kids were just relaxed, the pitchers were pitching towards our strengths, and we had kids who normally don’t hit step up.”
The Badgers received help from every part of the lineup, as eight different Badgers hit safely in the two games combined. Six different players recorded multi-hit games and UW had its highest scoring series of the year.
“We had a talk before the game, and we said this is our school rivalry,” sophomore Letty Olivarez said. “We want to come together, and I think we all just bought into that, and we bought into one goal.”
“I think it just happened to click today,” senior Lynn Anderson said. “We were relaxed, we were just having fun out there, and the hits just kept coming. I felt like as a team this was one of the best offensive games we have played all season.”
UW—which has been victimized by the home run all season — recorded three home runs of their own in the series. Anderson — the team leader in home runs — hit a home run in each game to give her nine on the season. Sophomore Letty Olivarez hit a two run shot in the second game, which gives her three home runs in the last four games.
“I think I was just preparing well before I went up to the plate,” Anderson said. “I had a mindset of just attack the ball, and it worked out. The funny thing is I was just trying to hit the ball on the ground. I wasn’t thinking home run or anything; I was just trying to get on base, but I guess I hit it hard enough to clear the fence.”
“I am keeping me head down like the coaches, and I have worked on it,” Olivarez said. “I still have work to do, but I keep telling myself to keep my head down and take an aggressive approach at the plate.”
Although the Badgers recorded 17 hits, they only walked three times in the two games. UW, normally a patient team, walked fewer times due to a more aggressive approach at the plate.
“Our mindset was to attack the pitchers,” Anderson said. “We wanted to hit the ball early and not sit and watch a lot of pitches. Obviously that worked today, and as a result we got more hits but took fewer walks.”
The Badgers are hoping to build off of this dynamic offensive performance in preparation for Ohio State this weekend. UW has been swinging the bats well lately, and they must continue to hit well if they hope to beat Ohio State.
“It helps a lot to get a couple of wins under our belt going into Ohio State.,” Anderson said. “I am excited. I hope we can take this energy and this momentum against Ohio State, and if we keep swinging the bats, well than good things will happen.”
“These games were huge, absolutely huge,” Schulte added. “If we play like this today, over the next four games, then we have a shot to go to the Big Ten tournament.”
Anonymous (April 24, 2008 @ 6:43am):
Ohio State and UW Green Bay are not the same. The Big Ten is dominating our team. As they are hitting a smaller school, They only had 5 hits in Iowa. 12 strickouts in one game so hitting well isn't all true. They are still under .210 as a team. As I am a fan something needs to be done with the head coach. It's a fantacy to think you can make the BT tournament.
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