The No. 15 Ohio State Softball team travels to Madison Wisc. this weekend for a two-game series against the Badgers.
The first-place Buckeyes (32-6, 9-1 Big Ten) are on a nine game winning streak and have won six straight conference games.
Wisconsin (12-30, 1-7 Big Ten) has struggled offensively, scoring just three runs in the team’s last six games. But coach Linda Kalafatis knows that OSU can’t be focused on the Badger’s statistics.
Michael Lindawan/THE LANTERN Kim Reeder pitching. .“In the Big Ten, throw records and numbers out, it’s going to be a battle,” she said. The Badgers have lost 10 out of their last 11 games.
Senior captain Kim Reeder will be the starting pitcher for the Buckeyes. Reeder has won 10 out her last 11 games and her 1.34 ERA is the fourth best in the Big Ten.
The Badgers have struggled to score runs this season but sophomore center fielder Jennifer Krueger leads the team in batting (.322), runs (17) and total bases (41).
OSU junior catcher Sam Marder, the Big Ten home run leader, and the OSU offense will take on junior pitcher Letty Olivarez. Olivarez has a 3.03 ERA but is just 8-20 on the season.
The Buckeyes are tied with No. 10 Northwestern atop the Big Ten standings and will try and keep pace with the Wildcats, who are on the road in West Lafayette, Ind., taking on the Purdue Boilermakers (21-10, 5-5 Big Ten).
OSU returns home Wednesday for a double header with the Boilermakers.
Evan Winkofsky can be reached at [email protected].
