The MSU softball team begins a four-game weekend at 4 p.m. today against Purdue at Old College Field.
The Spartans (23-11 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) face the Boilermakers (22-18, 2-2) again at home at 1 p.m. Saturday. Rounding out the home stand is a Sunday doubleheader against Indiana (18-13-1, 3-1) starting at noon.
Both Purdue and Indiana field dangerous hitters. Indiana's Lauren Hines is second in the Big Ten in batting average and also ranks in the conference's top five in hits, home runs, total bases, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and walks.
DaQueta Johnson of Purdue is equally as dangerous swinging the bat. She is third in the Big Ten with eight home runs and leads the conference with 35 RBIs.
How the team will pitch to Hines and Johnson depends on how the players batting behind these two in the lineup are hitting, MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said.
"If the kid behind them doesn't show up, then they're not going to see the pitches they would otherwise," Joseph said.
MSU sophomore pitcher Lesley Noel sees the two opposing batters in the same way she sees every other hitter that digs in the batter's box against her.
"I look at it as any other batter," she said. "I just pitch, hit my spots and focus. I don't really look at the batter; I just work on things I've always done."
Hines and Johnson aren't the only ones hot with the bat lately. The Spartans have won five of their last six games — with the only loss coming against Oakland in extra innings. During that span, junior right-fielder Nicole Mercado went 9-for-17, and four players drove in at least five runs — led by sophomore Caitlin Mahoney's seven RBIs.
Purdue and Indiana each have a starting pitcher that can carry their respective teams. For Indiana, that pitcher is Mariangee Bogado. She ranks in the top five in innings pitched, opposing batting average, wins and strikeouts. Purdue's Brooke Baker is equally impressive, standing third in the conference in wins and second in innings pitched.
"Each one of those teams have a pitcher that I think can keep them in the game," Joseph said. "If your team thinks you can be in a game, then they think they can win every game."
To counteract that, the Spartans have three starting pitchers that all hold ERAs under two. Noel, freshman Megan Hair and junior Rachel Turney have combined to go 22-11 this season while holding hitters to a .198 average.
With only two games played thus far against conference opponents, this four-game weekend is integral for MSU to get separation in the standings early on.
"I think these are real important in that I really predict Purdue and Indiana to be in the mix with us, and this is how you have to separate yourself," Joseph said. "Nobody can afford to get off to a bad start.
"(These games) will tell a lot on how we stack up."
