The Ohio State softball team (29-20, 5-11 Big Ten) gained a boost of confidence Wednesday, as it heads into the most crucial weekend of the season, with a sweep of Ball State (31-26, 6-8 MAC) 2-1 and 7-0 in a non-conference doubleheader.
"I hope this helps this weekend," Coach Linda Kalafatis said. "Every game is a new game, but we'll certainly use the momentum and hope it'll propel us into taking the field with a lot of confidence."
OSU currently sits in ninth place, two games behind Penn State (5-7 Big Ten). The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the post-season tournament.
The Buckeyes will play the last-place Wisconsin Badgers (14-37, 2-14) Friday and Saturday in Madison, and play the Minnesota Golden Gophers (23-14, 6-6) in Minneapolis for a doubleheader Sunday. The Bucks look to continue strong pitching performances from both junior Kim Reeder and sophomore Megan Miller in their final conference games of the season.
"It starts on the mound," Kalafatis said. "When we're good on the mound, our defense is better and we're playing with more confidence and then we're able to hit the ball. I really believe that Kim Reeder and Megan Miller have picked it up and hit their spots better in these last couple series and we'll hope to continue that trend the rest of the way."
On Wednesday, both Reeder and Miller allowed only three hits, picking up complete games without allowing an earned run.
"I was mixing my pitches," Miller said. "I was really just trying to hit my spots."
Miller credited the defense behind her, led by freshmen Dee Dee Hillman and Rachael Shepherd, for her success against Ball State.
Despite the wins Wednesday, the focus is still on catching the Nittany Lions by the end of the year.
The Lions have six games remaining and await the two top teams in the Big Ten. If OSU can win three of their final four conference games this weekend, it will set up a photo finish for the last spot in the tournament the Buckeyes won a year ago.
"I have a feeling it is going to come down to that last weekend," Kalafatis said. "We won't have any games left and all we can do is what we can this weekend."
OSU will enter the weekend with an RPI less than 50, hoping an appearance in the Big Ten tournament will revive their NCAA tournament hopes.
Josh Ellis can be reached at ellis.319@osu.edu.
2008 Woodie Awards
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