Welcoming Wisconsin: Rutgers softball set to take on Badgers in 3-game home series this weekend
The Rutgers softball team is hosting another Big Ten series this weekend at the Rutgers Softball Complex on Livingston campus. The Scarlet Knights (21-15, 3-3) will be welcoming Wisconsin on Friday for a three-game slate.
Rutgers is coming off of a series loss against Purdue. The Knights took game one last weekend 5-1, but they fell in the doubleheader the following day.
Despite Rutgers' lack of wins, senior pitcher and outfielder Morgan Smith crushed two home runs on the weekend and now holds the team high with 13 homers on the season. Smith also threw a complete game and collected a win in game one.
The Knights will now meet the Badgers (12-20, 1-5). Wisconsin has had a difficult schedule this season, playing several ranked teams already. The team has had some trouble finding the win column, especially against Big Ten teams.
The Badgers are on a three-game losing streak after suffering a sweep against Nebraska last weekend. They have also struggled on the road, only taking two wins when traveling this year.
Wisconsin is hitting a team batting average of .277, just lower than its opponents' .291 batting average.
The Badgers have been led offensively by Ava Kuszak, who has been one of their best overall hitters this season. Kuszak sports a .323 batting average with 19 runs batted in and four home runs.
Wisconsin's pitching staff owns a 4.23 earned (ERA) this season, a full run higher than Rutgers' 3.02 ERA. The Badgers will have to work extra hard to try and get around the Knights' hot bats if they want to snag a few wins in New Jersey.
Wisconsin has its hands full this weekend. Rutgers has been successful at home in recent seasons and has shown that it can compete in high-scoring games.
The series starts this Friday at 3 p.m. while the Saturday and Sunday games are penciled in for noon and 1 p.m., respectively.
Friday and Sunday's games will each be streamed on Big Ten Plus. Saturday's noon matchup will be aired on Big Ten Network.
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