Red and Big Blue play two
by Dave McGrath, Sports Writer
The University of Wisconsin softball team will face its stiffest competition of the season when the Badgers travel to Ann Arbor Sunday for a doubleheader with the University of Michigan, who is atop the Big Ten standings.
For the Badgers (25-21, 5-7), the twin billing will provide an opportunity to pick up a couple victories against a nationally ranked opponent and give them the confidence and momentum they need going into the stretch run of the season.
The Wolverines (40-7, 11-1), on the other hand, will be looking to continue their recent dominance over the Badgers, as they have taken five of the last six matchups between the two.
The Badgers are going to have to be on top of their game Sunday if they are going to leave Alumni Field with any success, with the Wolverines representing the class of the conference so far this season and whispers of a national championship circulating in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines, who are currently the No.8-ranked team in the nation, have won 23 of their last 24 games and appear to have no real chink in their armor, as they are both the best pitching team in the conference and second-best hitting team.
Michigan will go into Sunday with a minuscule collective ERA of 0.65, almost half that of Iowa, who with a 1.20 ERA has the second-lowest ERA in the Big Ten. Comparatively, the Badgers have a team-ERA of 2.27.
In what could be the nation’s strongest rotation top to bottom, Michigan sports three of the top four pitchers in the conference this year. In the pitcher’s circle Michigan is lead by sophomore Jennie Ritter, who carries a 17-4 record and an ERA of 0.77 — the fourth-best ERA in the Big Ten. Ritter is supported by junior Nicole Motycka, who is 15-3 with a 0.53 ERA, and freshman Lorilyn Wilson, who is 8-0 with a conference-best ERA of 0.38.
The Wolverines have given up four or more runs only three times all season and have pitched 22 shutouts, including a streak earlier in the year of eight-straight shutouts.
Michigan also presents one of the most productive offenses in the country. The Wolverines have a team-batting average of .298, which is second only to Michigan State’s .315, and they’ve scored 205 runs this season.
Wisconsin, in comparison, has a team average of .253 and has scored only 165 runs.
The Wolverine hitters are led by junior shortstop Jessica Merchant, who is having a record-breaking season for Michigan. Merchant is leading the conference in both RBI’s with 44, home runs with 14 and slugging percentage (.810). At the same time, Merchant is leading her team in batting average (.347), doubles (10) and triples (2). Just last week, Merchant set the Michigan record for homeruns while collecting her third Big Ten player of the Week award this season. Along with Merchant, the Wolverines offense is powered by fifth-year senior outfielder Meghan Doe and sophomore second baseman Tiffany Haas, who rank No. 1 and 2 on the team, respectively, in hits with 25 and 31, batting average with .333 and .329, and have combined for 56 runs scored and 31 stolen bases.
The Wolverines are also the top defensive team in the country, boasting a team fielding percentage of .972 and committing a conference-low 36 errors.
The Badgers are going to need to be hitting and pitching on all cylinders to be able to take down the Wolverines. But if there has been any theme to UW’s season this year, it has been timely hitting and big plays in the clutch. Wisconsin hopes that their team play will keep them in the game long enough for another victory in the final hour.
To accomplish the feat, however, Wisconsin will need continued strong pitching from junior Katie Layne and freshman Eden Brock. While Layne has been the staff leader with a record of 12-9 and a 2.93 ERA, Brock has emerged as one of the freshman sensations for Wisconsin by registering a team-low 1.68 ERA and a 10-9 record. The duo must keep the Wolverine bats quiet to give the Badger hitters a chance to get to the triple threat of pitchers.
The Badgers do have the bats to give the Michigan pitchers fits, with junior shortstop Kris Zacher and junior catcher Boo Gillette leading the way. Zacher and Gillette have each won Player of the Week award themselves and are the catalysts for the UW offense. Zacher is second in the conference in hits (52) and runs scored (33), while ranking seventh in batting average (.356.) Gillette is third in the Big Ten in RBIs (32), second in doubles (14) and ninth in the batting average (.352). The two juniors have been the driving force behind UW’s offense all season and will need big games to tackle the Wolverines Sunday.