As has been the case all season long for the Badgers, the underclassmen stepped up in a big way in a game two victory against Green Bay Wednesday.

Continuing her torrent pace of late, freshman Mary Massei, went 2-for-4 in the Badgers’ second game, recording two runs, one RBI and boosting her season batting average to an impressive .333, which is second on the team. Both of Massei’s hits went for triples, tying a school record for most in a game. Even more impressive, she now stands alone as the all-time leader in single season triples with six this season.

“It felt great to be able to [get those triples] for my team,” Massei said. “We were just focusing on making the adjustments on the first pitcher since we had to see her in the second game. It was great that we made those adjustments.”

Massei, who batted second in the first game loss to Green Bay, proved she can hit from anywhere into the lineup as she was switched to the leadoff spot after the first game.

“I’m comfortable hitting anywhere in the lineup,” Massei said. “You’re really only in [the leadoff] position at the very first at-bat.”

Massei is a versatile hitter, who can hit from anywhere in the lineup. However, after her record-setting performance Wednesday, Healy will be hard-pressed to take her out of the leadoff spot going forward.

“I like [Massei] in that leadoff spot,” Healy said. “We are trying to tweak it, but Mary [Massei] in the one spot is tough because she has that triple threat and she brings her power. You have a kid like Mary, who has the potential to go yard. If you are going to get one more at-bat we want it to be someone who has the chance to put it over the fence.”

Stephanie Peace committed a costly error in the first game loss, her 16th of the season, and was switched to second base before the second game. However, Peace’s struggles in the field may have been due to injury, according to Healy.

“Steph [Peace] got a little hurt and got a little banged up,” Healy said. “It was hard for her to attack balls, limping a little bit out there.”

Filling in for Peace at shortstop was freshman Michelle Mueller, who turned an impressive double play in the sixth inning that all but sealed the game for the Badgers.

“You know when you make those defensive changes, the ball is going to get hit at those kids,” Healy said.

“Michelle did a nice job of helping [Meghan McIntosh] out,” Healy said. “We made that same switch [on spring break] and Michelle gave us a little burst of energy.”

The Badgers bounced back from their tough loss in the first game and came to play at the plate and in the field. However, it was the dominant pitching from sophomore McIntosh that gave Wisconsin the biggest edge.

“We easily could have gotten swept after Cassandra [Darrah] loses the first game, but Meghan [McIntosh] did a phenomenal job of holding them down,” Healy said.

McIntosh gave up an earned run in the first inning but was able to get in a groove and hold Green Bay scoreless for the rest of the game. The southpaw pitched a complete game four-hitter, striking out six batters.

“I worked on really moving the ball more outside and not giving them any balls to hit good contact on,” McIntosh said.

In her second year with the Badgers, McIntosh has learned she doesn’t need to do it all by herself. All season long she has been able to trust her defense to get her out of tough spots.

“Everyone does their job in the field, I pitch the ball and they hit it to my defense and let the defense work,” McIntosh said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be.”