B1G 2019: Storms Brewing
Through three weeks of Big Ten Conference play here are the regular season standings! Week four presents a number of key, interesting, and well-balanced matchups! We’re breaking down every series, looking back at the key series outcomes from last weekend, discussing the impact of the winter weather hitting the Midwest and more!
Find our first two breakdowns below:
Week One
Week Two
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LOOKING BACK
Then No. 23 Indiana at Michigan
All eyes turned to Ann Arbor toward a series that will play a crucial role in the outcome of the regular season Big Ten race, Indiana traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the 6-0 Wolverines. It was a back-and-forth affair but Michigan came out with the series sweep, all but ending Indiana’s realistic chances of claiming the regular season title. Home field advantage played a huge role in this series as Michigan doesn’t often loss on their home turf. Indiana lead at times, threatened often, and gave Michigan a run for their money but in the end couldn’t seal the deal. The Wolverines move to 9-0 in conference play, surviving the first of three “toughest” conference tests this season.
Much praise goes to sophomore ace, Meghan Beaubien, who collected three wins while throwing 14.1 innings, striking out 18 batters, and holding a fairly strong offense to only five earned runs.
Offensively, freshman Lexie Blair continues to be consistent and strong while Mackenzie Nemitz played hero on Sunday.
Then No. 12 Minnesota at Illinois
As we expected this series was fun, filled with offensive moments, and pretty close from start to finish. Mother Nature made it interesting and forced the teams to condense the series into a single game on Friday and a doubleheader Saturday. In my opinion, this was a catch 22 and didn’t necessarily seem to bode well for Illinois. Last week, we predicted the best opportunity for an Illini victory was game two as that would likely be Minnesota’s Amber Fiser’s non-starting game. Impressively, Illinois picked up the victory in the second game of the series (game one of the Saturday doubleheader) in eight innings chasing Fiser in four and walking off against senior, Sydney Smith.
In classic Minnesota fashion, the Gophers came out with a literal “bang” in the rubber match blasting five home runs for the lopsided 10-3 victory. Hope Brandner yet again led the way at the plate while the Gophers picked up key offensive production from MaKenna Partain, Katelyn Kemmetmueller, Maddie Houlihan, and Josey White. For her effort, Brandner was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Week.
Amber Fiser was always fantastic as usual in game one, going the distance, collecting the shut out victory, fanning nine batters, while only issuing two walks. She was great.
For Illinois, Sydney Sickels was solid in game two picking up the victory while only allowing two earned runs and defensively the Illini played well behind her. Sickels only recorded two strike outs so her defense definitely had her back.
Offensively Carly Thomas was strong and steady while Kailee Powell, Annie Fleming and Katie Wingerter contributed RBIs of their own. Wingerter played hero in game two providing the two-run walk-off homerun to lift the Illini over the Gophers.
Rutgers at Ohio State
The Red Knights are competing in their season under head coach, Kristen Butler, with a simple goal for the 2019 campaign: improvement. In 2018 Rutgers finished 19-31 and currently hold a 17-19 record. After falling in a close game one matchup (2-0) they rebounded to pick up a big victory over Ohio State in game two of the series winning an extra inning affair, 8-6. The opening slate of Big Ten Conference games have pitted Rutgers against the “Big Ten firing squad” of Northwestern, Michigan, and then Ohio State. While they’ve gone 1-8 through that stretch the rest of the schedule eases up a bit and fans should be excited to see what an improved Rutgers can do down the stretch.
In their victory of Ohio State pitchers Corah Price and Whitney Jones split the pitching duties with Jones securing the victory. Offensively, the Red Knights’ Jess Hughes, Anyssa Iiopoulos, Katie Wingert, Aleah Marra, and Nicole Bowman contributed to the team’s eight run burst.
Purdue at then No. 23 Indiana (Mid-Week Matchup)
Purdue traveled to Indiana for their Big Ten mid-week matchup, ultimately splitting the doubleheader. The Hoosier took game one 2-1, while the Boilermakers secured their 4-3 game two victory in nine innings.
Maddie Westermoreland and Katie Lacefield lifted the Hoosiers to victory in game won while Tara Trainer picked up her 20th victory of the season pitching all seven innings, striking out nine, and only issuing two walks.
In game two, Purdue’s Sydney Bates stepped up in a big way pitching all nine innings, allowed zero earned runs, and struck out seven. The extra inning affair marked her 11th season victory. Jenny Behan, Lexi Huffman, and Kasey Wilhoit propelled the Boilermaker offense with Behan hitting the game tying home run in the seventh inning and Huffman sending the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth.
A big win for Purdue marks a point of concern for Indiana who could officially be considered “on the bubble” for the NCAA Tournament going forward. The Boilermakers are currently 81 in the RPI rankings, which, isn’t horrible but that loss – on their home field – still hurts Indiana’s own RPI and post season resume. For what it’s worth, Indiana sits at 39, still good enough to make the tournament but the rest of the regular season and the Big Ten tournament are going to be increasingly crucial.
In the Hooisers remaining games they will face Maryland, Wisconsin, Rutgers, and Penn State in three game series and while they could loss a game or two to Wisconsin (RPI 35) they really need to win out against those other teams.
STORY LINES
Mother Nature, Please Play Nice!
An April snow storm has crushed a good portion of the Midwest causing travel and field issues. Minnesota versus Michigan State has been condensed to a two game doubleheader on Sunday only, Iowa and Illinois have altered their series, and Wisconsin versus Northwestern has also been altered. Cancelling games is never ideal but even more importantly it messes with a team’s winning percentage and can put programs in a tough spot. Big Ten softball awards championships on winning percentage, with one loss this puts Minnesota in a bigger hole without even stepping on the field. The Gophers now need Northwestern and Michigan to lose two games to elevate them that top spot and conference title.
There are 23 games in the Big Ten Regular season, let’s say Michigan drops one game and Minnesota sweeps Northwestern meaning both programs only record one loss on the season, here’s how it works out:
Michigan: 22-1, winning percentage: .956
Minnesota: 21-1, winning percentage: .954
The regular season champion would remain Michigan, despite both programs only each only having one loss.
There is a ton of Big Ten left to play where literally anything can happen and normally this doesn’t ultimately end up being the deciding factor but whenever cancellations start to occur conference races can get very interesting, very quickly. Keep and eye on it!
Indiana On the Bubble
As mentioned above, Indiana should be considered on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament going forward. A strong, commanding end to the regular season will be crucial to their resume. Keep an eye on them to see how they finish!
DEJA VU
Fun fact, last time Michigan State was slated to play at Minnesota an April blizzard hit the Midwest yet again and cancelled the entire series. That series was supposed to have taken place April 19, 20, 21st, 2013.
Who wants to bet Spartan Coach Jackie Joseph doesn’t much like having to travel to Minnesota?!
KEY UPCOMING MATCHUPS
As mentioned above, this weekend is one of the more balanced Big Ten Conference weekends you’re going to find which should excite fans! With that said, let’s take a look at every series:
No. 21 Wisconsin at No. 25 Northwestern
This series is big. Not only is it a meeting of two FPN nationally ranked teams but both of these programs are very much in the running for the regular season title.
We are excited to see the pitching battle between Northwestern’s Danielle Williams and Wisconsin’s Kaitlyn Menz/Haley Hestekin.
The slight advantage goes to the Badgers who appear to have more depth in the bullpen and with secondary arms. Keep an eye on what the Wildcats do with pitching assignments this weekend; does Williams get the every day start? Maybe? I wouldn’t rule it out.
Maryland at Indiana
Unfortunately for Indiana the pressure is on and with a Maryland program who can swing it a bit that has nothing to really loss, the Hoosiers could be in for a fight!
No. 24 Michigan at Ohio State
Along with Wisconsin versus Northwestern this is the series of the weekend! A huge rivalry contest between “the team up north” and “Ohio” is sure to be a good one. Ohio State holding home field advantage in this series could prove to be the difference maker. While Michigan should on paper take this series at least 2-1 and Ohio State has struggled in past season to finish off the Wolverines (though they did secure a big 10-1 victory last season) never rule out what can happen during a rivalry matchup! Ohio State is hitting well and getting enough efficiency from the circle while Michigan isn’t as strong at the plate as they’ve been in past season. But the Buckeyes will have to figure out Meghan Beaubien and Alex Storako, which of course, is easier said than done.
Illinois at Iowa
This meeting of the Illini and Hawkeyes could be very intriguing to follow. You have the red hot, dangerous bats of Illinois against the skill and talent of Allison Doocy. While the Illini should eventually be able to get to her Iowa’s offense may have the ability to push some runs against a pitching staff that can be a little hit or miss to make this a tighter series.
Illinois freshman ace, Sydney Sickels, will be making her first Iowa homecoming! Let’s see if that helps propel the Indianola, IA native to another steady and strong weekend in the circle.
Michigan State at No. 9 Minnesota
This is probably the most “lopsided” series of the weekend. Unfortunately, the Twin Cities area was hit with the winter snow storm that is covering the Midwest which caused the series to be moved to a Saturday/Sunday affair. It would later be condensed further into a doubleheader on Sunday only due to travel issues according to Minnesota’s Twitter account.
Even still, Minnesota should be to sweep this condensed series and capture two wins. Though, it should be mentioned, last season Michigan State was able to play spoiler and defeated the Gophers in East Lancing on the Saturday of the series. Do I necessarily foresee it happening again, on Minnesota’s home turf? Not really. But have crazier things happened? You betcha. The Gophers just need to come ready and take care of business.
Nebraska at Purdue
What could be an underrated Big Ten series this weekend the Huskers travel to West Lafayette to face the Boilermakers. This series could be a really back and fourth, offensive run fest.
You’ve got two young, building teams in Nebraska and Purdue ready to duke it out. This series has the fixings to may be not always be “pretty” but that’s what could make it the most fun to watch.
Rutgers at Penn State
With two very evenly matched teams, this series is a toss up! I would expect to see something similar to the above mentioned Nebraska versus Purdue matchup.
BIG TEN WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hope Brandner – Minnesota
PITCHER AND FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Danielle Williams – Northwestern
FPN PROJECTIONS
Just for fun, here are our prediction for how the Big Ten season awards would shake out if it all ended today! Note: these are based of Big Ten conference play stats as they are from week to week.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Hope Brandner, Minnesota
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Meghan Beaubien, Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Danielle Williams, Northwestern
