SB Splits with Purdue today; Drops to #4 in Polls

Submitted by MGoSoftball on

SB Team #37 inched their way to another Big Ten Championship tonight.  I say "inched" because we split with Second Place Purdue.  We lost the first game 3-2 but game back with a vengence in the night cap boiling the Boilermakers 11-0 in mercy-rule style.

We dropped one slot to #4 in this week's Coaches Poll but remained at #3 in the USA Today Poll.

Purdue (11-4 B1G) is actually tied for second with Nebraska (11-4 B1G). Minny, who dropped 2 to us this weekend, dropped from 2nd place to 4th place at 11-5 in the B1G.

In the first game, Haylie started and did not have her best stuff.  She pitched 3 innings and gave up 3 runs (2 ER) off 5 hits.  She had no BBs and 4 Ks.  Sara came on in the 4th and did not give up any runs, off 3 hits.  Sara had 2 BBs and 2 Ks.

On offense, Lauren had the hot bat going 2 for 3 with a long ball in the 6th.  Lindsay M. went 2 for 2 with the other RBI.

In the second game, Megan was lights out.  She pitched all 6 innings gave up no runs and scattered 5 hits.  She finished with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts.

Romo was the offensive hero in the second game.  She went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.  Silo went 2 for 3 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored.  Lyndsay D. went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Overall not a great day but the split with the second place team does not hurt.  We play 3 games this weekend at last-place Illinois then return home the following weekend against 6th place Wiskey.  So if we go at least 4 for the next 6 then we will do no worse that tied for the B1G as Nebraska has 4 loses.  I think will win all three at Illinois and win 2 for 3 versus Wiskey.

I also think Nebraska will lose one in their upcoming schedule with Wiskey.  Nebraska also plays staee and Indiana.  So my prediction is that we will end up with a 2 game lead over Nebraska while Minny and Purdue will be tied for 3rd.

Megan just continues to impress.  She is now a full-fledged #1 pitcher.  What a wonderful problem to have if you are Hutch: 3 legitimate Aces.

I cannot wait for the NCAA Tournament to start so we can get back to Oklahoma City.

MGoSoftball

April 24th, 2014 at 9:00 PM ^

the loss to Purdue will drop us out of the top 8.  We are 17 in RPI now so a loss to an unranked Purdue is not a resume builder.  We will make the top 16 though.

It should not be too bad as we would like play at Tennessee or Kentucky.  That is close enough for many to make the trip.

South Bend Wolverine

April 24th, 2014 at 12:36 AM ^

Yeah, this is the real problem with today's loss.  As far as the Big Ten race goes, we're still in great shape, although taking both would of course have been better.  This inches us closer to that margin of who gets to host a super and who doesn't, though, and that can be key.  Still, as long as we take care of business down the stretch, we should be just fine in that department.  This weekend is a must-sweep situation, as Illinois is pretty weak, with only 3 Big Ten wins (they have, in their defense, faced about the toughest Big Ten schedule one could concoct).  They did clip Nebraska once, though, so we can't take anything for granted.  I learned that lesson with all the crap I've been talking about Purdue...

Alton

April 23rd, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^

Actually, Purdue dropped to third with the split:

1 Michigan (15-2)

2 Nebraska (11-4)

3 Purdue (12-5)

4 Minnesota (11-5)

5 Northwestern (11-6)

6 Wisconsin (9-5)

7 Ohio State (8-9)

8 Iowa (6-11)

9 Penn State (5-12)

10 Indiana (4-13)

10 Michigan State (4-13)

12 Illinois (3-14)

Nebraska & Wisconsin have 8 games remaining, everybody else has 6.

Michigan ends the season with 3 at Illinois this weekend and 3 at home against Wisconsin next weekend.  Michigan's magic number is 5, but they won't get a lot of help this weekend--Nebraska plays Michigan State in a 3-game series and Minnesota hosts Penn State.

I agree that Betsa has been impressive, but she has been given the "easy" starts so far--the second games of doubleheaders and the third games of 3-game series.  It will be interesting to see if Betsa moves ahead of Driesenga in the rotation this weekend and next, and even more interesting to see what Hutchins does with the pitchers in the playoffs.  I think she has to stick with Wagner as the #1 pitcher, with Betsa the first one in out of the bullpen.

MGoGrendel

April 24th, 2014 at 6:49 AM ^

As far as Besta moving up, she may have similar talent as Driesenga. Maybe (speculating) Driesenga has more of the competitive edge to take on the tougher assignments. When the game is in hand, it's easier for a pitcher to rock back and fire. Tight games effect pitchers differently. I don't have a clue as to "whats between their ears" but I'm sure Hutch does.

Smash Lampjaw

April 24th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^

did a great job in game one. She is a local in Illinois here and I have been watching her for a long time. Too bad for her that she had to start game 2 also. On a day when she held the #4 team to 2 runs, I don't think she improved her era.

FlaBlue2

April 24th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^

to close out the Big Ten season.  Michigan takes all 3 at Illinois and 2 of 3 against Wisconsin in Ann Arbor.  Nebraska loses 1 of 2 at Wisconsin but wins all of its games at MSU and at home against Indiana.  Purdue has a tough closing schedule—3 at Wisconsin and 3 at home against Minnesota. I think Purdue wins 1 in each series.  Minnesota sweeps PSU at home and Northwestern sweeps OSU in Columbus and MSU at home.