In a three-game series at No. 20 Nebraska, the once volatile bats of the No. 9 Michigan softball team fell dormant to Cornhusker pitching.

Well, except for one batter.

As the Wolverines’ starting catcher, sophomore Lauren Sweet has been known more for her contributions behind the plate than her work in the batter’s box this season, but over the weekend, she erupted.

Boasting a .993 fielding percentage with just two errors through 49 games, Sweet proves the most solid defensive starter on her team. For a team whose Achilles’ heel was exploited in the field — with 61 errors so far — Sweet’s catching has been invaluable.

When both sophomore pitchers Haley Wagner and Sara Driesenga struggled in the circle this weekend, Sweet was there to lend a calming voice. In the second inning on Saturday, when it looked like a second straight game would get away from the Wolverines, Sweet’s trip to the mound was enough to put Wagner back on track.

“I went and talked to her and told here we were in a good situation and we needed to fight,” Sweet said. “I tried to calm her down and told her it was just her and I out there. She calmed down and had a better attack the last few innings.”

As a team, the Wolverines went 13-for-74 against Nebraska en route to their first series loss this season.

But the sophomore went 6-for-7 with two home runs and six RBI, and reached base nine times in 10 plate appearances. Her home run on Friday was just one of two hits on the day for the Wolverines. In a comeback 5-3 win on Saturday in the seventh inning, Sweet hit a two-run single to break the 3-3 tie. The hit was a part of a 3-for-4 day and a performance that earned Sweet her first Big Ten Player of the Week award.

“Getting a hit gives you confidence right away, but you need to have it even when you're down,” Sweet said. “We focused in during the seventh inning and watched the bad pitches go by. We went to a one-pitch mentality.

“Getting my confidence back has been huge for me in the Big Ten season.”

Despite hitting a solid .277 in her freshman season, Sweet’s first-half hitting in 2013 has been a work in progress. Prior to conference play, Sweet was hitting well under .200 with more strikeouts than hits.

Following the Big Ten opener against Purdue, the sophomore has improved into yet another offensive threat for the Wolverines. It is a progression Michigan coach Carol Hutchins took notice of a month ago.

“Lauren had a great weekend as did (junior first baseman Caitlin) Blanchard,” Hutchins said after a sweep of Ohio State. “Both of those kids have worked hard on their swings and I’m really excited to see them get better at it. Really excited.”

During conference play, Sweet is batting a team-leading .468 with six home runs and 27 RBI through 19 games, and has since raised her season average to a respectable .286.

“It's a really good story because she had a real adverse start to the season,” Hutchins said. “Her confidence was shook, and I told her to keep working through it. It's a story that some of our other kids need to follow right now. It doesn't matter what happened in February and March. Lauren knows how to work through and she knows how to work the game a little better. She is feeling confident, and working through that adversity has made her a better player.”