College Softball News

B1G 2019: Heating Up

Another fun weekend of Big Ten play has concluded with some teams picking up statement victories while other story lines begin to brew. Through two weeks of play here are the current conference standings:

In week two then No. 14 Minnesota and Michigan took care of business as expected defeating Purdue and Rutgers, respectively, while Northwestern dodged the potential trap game facing Allison Doocey in their sweep of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The surprise team of the week has to be Nebraska who hosted Illinois and took the series two games to one. Defeating the impressive conference leading Illini offense.

Then No. 23 Indiana got back on track sweeping Michigan State but not without a few scares along the way.

Let’s get into it, our weekly winners, story lines we’re watching and more!

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LOOKING BACK

Illinois at Nebraska 
Pulled from our “Notable Series” article from earlier this week.
The young pitching staff of Nebraska squared off against the hot hitting and conference leading Illinois offense in a series that surprised many. Nebraska won the weekend defeating the Illini in games one and three. Lindsey Walljasper pitched a gem in the first game allowing only two earned runs through a full seven innings of work. While Alyvia Simmons, Samantha Owens, Peyton Glatter, and Tristen Edwards were particularly strong at the plate. This kind of weekend can be monumental for a young team like the Huskers have this season and help carry them to more wins and stronger play through the rest of the conference season. Also, keep an eye on Walljasper, there is a ton of talent there with a high ceiling of potential.

Then No. 23 Indiana at Michigan State
This series was crucial for Indiana not only to keep their hopes alive in the race for the regular season title as well in the postseason picture. Point blank, the Hoosiers had to sweep. They were able to achieve that but it wasn’t a cake walk by any means. The weekend started off with a scare in game one as the Spartans jumped out to a 6-0 lead and it was not looking good for Indiana until they exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the fourth. From there, Indiana took control of the rest of the weekend but they didn’t quite look back to themselves fully.

Moving forward Indiana has to clean up the defense, they recorded six errors this weekend and still managed to come away with the sweep. That’s not always going to be the case. However, they did seem to be back to themselves offensively which will be crucial as they enter the coming series with Michigan.

Northwestern at Iowa
Iowa should not be overlooked by anyone in the Big Ten this season when Allison Doocy is on the mound. She is talented, she is competitor, and she is used to throwing dozens of innings. For that reason, Iowa could play spoiler for a few people this season. Luckily for Northwestern, the Wildcats came in and took care of business. Danielle Williams was masterful in game one pitching the complete game one-hit shut out while striking out 15 batters. But Doocey also threw well, going the full seven innings striking out nine of her own, and allowing only two earned runs.

For Iowa, defensively they have to be better while offensively they seem to be making improvement slowly but surely. Don’t be shocked if they pull one or two big wins in conference play before the season is out.

For Northwestern, if they can continue to stay consistent while capitalizing when runners are on base (they lead the conference with a .402 on-base percentage) they’re going to be in great shape.

STORY LINES

ARE PITCHERS GASSING?:
This season the Big Ten has a number of strong pitchers and team aces, however, some of these athletes have thrown a lot and may be starting to show those signs of season wear, tear, and fatigue that naturally occurs as the season gets deeper. Take a look at some of the conference’s best innings pitched numbers:

Tara Trainer (IN): 143.2
Allison Doocy (IA): 131.2
Amber Fiser (MN): 130.1
Danielle Williams (NU): 117.1
Meghan Beaubien (MI): 114.1

Ultimately, this will make this conference race very interesting as we get deeper into the season and worth keeping an eye on. We’re starting to see some more hits and runs given up and walks issues towards the end of games you don’t necessarily see earlier in the year. We will see how it plays out but one thing is for sure, if these teams can get better production from their bullpen the more successful they’re going to be and could ultimately be the difference in who takes home the regular season and tournament titles.

KEY WEEKLY MATCHUPS

No. 23 Indiana at Michigan
No. 23 Indiana travels to Ann Arbor to face off against Michigan in a crucial series for both teams. Last season, Indiana hosted Michigan and it was a back-and-fourth nail biting series that Michigan claimed two games to one.

This weekend could be considered “do or die” for Indiana’s shot at the 2019 Big Ten regular season title. While there is a lot of season left to play, the history doesn’t bode well for teams that start to record more than four or five losses. In the past ten seasons a team has lost five games or more and still been crowned the conference champion twice (2012 and 2014). Outside of those seasons the “sweet spot” has been 1-3 losses maximum.

This series could be very interesting as Indiana and Michigan have two strong aces but also have second arms that have been pretty successful this season in Alex Storako (MI) and Emily Goodin (IN).

There are two other key component to this matchup: home field advantage for Michigan and the strength of schedules played between both programs. Michigan is great in Ann Arbor, rarely do they lose there. And as far as schedule strengthen, the Wolverine hitters have arguably seen stronger pitching over the course of this season. Does that better prepare them for Indiana’s Trainer and Goodin? Who knows, we will see! Conversely, Indiana has seen slightly stronger pitching in these past two weeks, how does that set them up? Again, only time will tell!

No. 12 Minnesota at Illinois
This could be a scary series for Minnesota, especially playing on the road at Illinois with the Illini coming off what is probably considered a disappointing weekend in Lincoln. Sitting at a 3-3 conference record, the Illini really don’t have much to lose at this moment in regards to the conference race which makes a traditionally scrappy, gritty program even more of a handful.

Over the past few years Illinois has always gone toe-to-toe with the Gophers and have pulled out a handful of big wins. I believe Minnesota should pull out the series two to one but I do feel like the Illini will claim at least victory over the course of the weekend.

Positives for Minnesota – Ace, Amber Fiser, has had a lot of success against the Illini including two shutout victories last season, one of which was a no-hitter. Another important factor, senior Maddie Houlihan has been hot and looks to be back to her “normal” self which is a hitter that is clutch, consistent, and who delivers in big moments. Yet another notable positive for Minnesota going into this weekend is their much improved fielding percentage. In past years, errors have haunted Minnesota versus Illinois and the Illini are not a team you can give extra chances to and expect to beat. This improvement could be crucial to Minnesota’s success this weekend.

Where Illinois can and will really need to attack is when that second arm steps onto the mound; whichever game that occurs in I think is up for grabs either way. Now the question becomes, does Minnesota give Fiser the start in every game of the weekend? We will see but that could be very plausible. However with a hot hitting and talented offensive team like Illinois come Sunday after seeing that many at-bats who knows what could happen.

Something that bodes well for Illinois, the middle to bottom half of the Gopher lineup is still struggling and since Sydney Sickels is a freshman, no one has seen her. The top four hitters (Partain, DenHartog, Brandner, Houlihan) for Minnesota are very talented and tough outs, if they can find a way to contain them, they’re going to be in a great position. Another question to consider, is it worth saving Sickels until game two and three and hoping for the best from your secondary arms in game one? May not be a bad strategy as I think a game one victory for Illinois is going to be very difficult.

Basically, this series has the fixings to be very fun and pivotal in the conference race!

Northwestern at Nebraska
Northwestern is one of three remaining undefeated programs entering this next weekend of play traveling to Lincolin, Nebraska home of the Cornhuskers! A young Nebraska squad is coming off an exciting and important series victory against Illinois which poses the next question: how will they respond? How will they build on that success? And can they continue it? Northwestern’s Danielle Williams is the real deal so she will be a tough challenge to defeat but I’m looking forward to seeing how the Huskers do this weekend.

Playing in Lincoln is always difficult. Bowlin Stadium is really a special place. Wondering if some of that home field magic hands Northwestern their first conference loss this season? This is dangerous for the Wildcats, again, there’s something about Bowlin Stadium in addition to a young squad who “doesn’t know any better”.

On paper the Wildcats should roll the Huskers easily and sweep the series, in actuality, don’t be surprised if Nebraska comes out with a victory. I would expect to see it in game two if it occurred.

BIG TEN WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alex Sobzack – Michigan
Kayla Konwent – Wisconsin

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Lexie Blair – Michigan
Natalie DenHartog – Minnesota

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Danielle Williams – Northwestern

Find the release here.

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
Danielle Williams, Northwestern

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Danielle Williams, Northwestern

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