The University of Wisconsin softball team begins its biggest weekend of the season today, as the Badgers open up a two games series against the University of Illinois and follow with a doubleheader Sunday against the University of Iowa. The Badgers head into the weekend desperately needing conference victories to secure a spot in the upcoming Big Ten tournament.
Wisconsin, currently 27-23 overall, but just 5-9 in Big Ten play, has only six games left in the Big Ten season and is tied for seventh with Ohio State in the conference standings, one game behind Michigan State. Only the top six teams in the Big Ten standings participate in the Big Ten tournament, which means Wisconsin has some ground to make up in the final six conference games if it wants to extend its season.
Wisconsin’s final six conference games are all at home and begin today with the Badgers hoping for a reversal of fortune against the Fighting Illini, who own an 8-1 advantage in the all-time series. Wisconsin’s lone victory came on March 31, 2002 when the Badgers overcame four errors to eek out a 3-2 victory over the Illini.
Illinois (34-17, 9-5) offers a tough test for the Badgers, touting one of the Big Ten’s top pitching squads. With a collective team ERA of 1.49, the Illini allow the third fewest runs among Big Ten teams. Senior pitcher Amanda Fortune leads the way for Illinois, sporting a 21-9 record and 1.23 ERA. Fortune has been the workhorse for Illinois this season, logging 210 innings so far, most in the conference. Fortune pitched eight and two-thirds innings last season against Wisconsin, giving up nine hits and four runs in two games. Fortune was also Big Ten Player of the Week earlier this season.
The Illini offense is very solid also and is led by sophomore first baseman Jenna Hall. Hall is the team leader in several categories, with a .333 batting average, 30 RBI, and five homeruns. Hall, however, is greatly aided by sophomore outfielder Rachelle Coriddi, and junior outfielder LeeAnn Butcher who both have batted above a .300 clip and are third and fifth, respectively, in stolen bases in the Big Ten. The pair this season has combined to steal 34 bases and to score 39 runs for Illinois.
Illinois has also been hot as of late, winning nine of their last 12.
After the two game set against Illinois, Wisconsin finishes the important weekend with a twin-bill against the Hawkeyes of Iowa. Iowa (33-18, 11-3) also rolls into Madison on a hot-streak having won 16 of their last nineteen.
The Badgers probably enter the doubleheader with a bevy of confidence after defeating the Hawkeyes in two of the teams’ three meetings this year, all in various tournaments. After losing 17 of their first 18 all-time games to Iowa, Wisconsin has bucked the trend this season taking down Iowa 6-3 in the ASU Louisville Slugger Classic in February, and then coming away with a 2-1 decision at the Hawkeye Classic finale last month, which was played on Iowa’s home turf.
The Badgers will need that confidence to bring the soaring Hawkeyes back down to earth on Sunday. The first order of business will be scoring runs on Iowa’s elite pitching. Iowa ranks second in the conference with a team ERA of just 1.18. The Hawkeyes’ ace is junior Lisa Birocci, who, with a 19-9 record, leads the team with a paltry 0.96 ERA.
The Badgers however have scored five runs in 11 and a third innings against Birocci this season and have dealt her two of her nine losses.
The Iowa offense is a very balanced one that offers potential pratfalls for the Badger pitchers from top to bottom. A trio of sophomores stand out as the most dangerous Hawkeyes in the lineup. Infielder Kylie Murray leads the team with a .315 batting average and has driven in 25 runs — also the most on the team. Second baseman Natalie Johnson is hitting .299 and leads the Hawkeyes with 32 runs scored this season, while driving in 17. Right fielder Emily Gerlick has driven in 23 runs, scored 17 times and leads the conference with five triples while batting .269. Gerlick is also a perfect 7-7 on stolen base attempts.
Surprisingly the Hawkeyes’ biggest homerun threat is pitcher Birocci, who takes her own at bats, while third baseman Abby Ruff is replaced in the lineup by a designated hitter. In only 99 at-bats this season Birroci has swatted five homeruns, tying her for the team lead. She has also driven in 10 runs and collected five doubles.
The Badgers will need their “A” game this weekend if they want to deal the Illini and Hawkeyes with a loss or two each. The Badgers will rely on strong pitching from freshman Eden Brock and junior Katie Layne, and clutch hitting from junior catcher Boo Gillette and junior shortstop Kris Zacher, to have a successful weekend and hopefully climb up in the Big Ten standings.