60 // VARSITY April 17, 2014
Heating up: Badgers keep
rolling through April
Wisconsin has won seven in a row at home
A
fter a mid-season
slump that saw the
Badgers score a total of
12 runs in five games, the Wis-
consin offense has come to life
during a seven-game homes-
tand, outscoring its opponents
58-20.
Leading the charge for
Wisconsin has been Michelle
Mueller, who made program
history this week by becoming
the first player to win NFCA
Player of the Week and USA
Softball Player of the Week
honors. During the homes-
tand, Mueller hit six homers,
recorded 22 RBI and posted a
slugging percentage of 1.476.
"I'm just really comfortable
at the plate," Mueller said. "I've
been working on a lot of men-
tal things: breathing, just get-
ting a focus point. It gives me
confidence when the girls say, 'We just
want to pass it on to you.' And to have
runners on base with the opponent al-
ready a little bit worried about other
players like Mary (Massei) and Steph
(Peace), it really just makes you comfort-
able and confident in yourself."
Mary Massei is another Badger that's
been on a tear, as the senior outfielder
tallied 11 hits during the homestand
and scored a team-high nine runs. She
knocked in the game-winning run in
the Badgers' 9-8 comeback win against
Green Bay on Wednesday.
"I was just really thinking, 'This is what
I'm here for,'" Massei said. "We work hard
every single day and we lift each other
up. When you step into the box you just
need to have that mindset that you're go-
ing to get it done."
The Badgers have won some close
games lately, taking three of their past
five contests by one run. They believe the
close calls will help build confidence for
the squad.
"Games like that where it gets close at
the end you just have to keep fighting no
matter who we play," Massei said.
"At the end of the day we might be
young, we might be down a couple of
runs, but we believe that, no matter
what, we're never out of it," Mueller said.
"I think that's the mentality that we're
trying to instill in everyone."
SCHEDULE (24-15, 6-5)
THIS WEEK
Wednesday Green Bay W, 9-8
Wednesday Green Bay W, 5-2
UP NEXT
Friday at Penn State 5 p.m.
Saturday at Penn State Noon
Saturday at Penn State 2 p.m.
INSIDE
SOFTBALL
BY CHRISTIAN BLATNER @BADGERSOFTBALL
