[media-credit name=’DEREK MONTGOMERY/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]The Wisconsin softball team regularly starts four seniors, five when Katie Layne takes the mound. However, one of the team’s youngest players has taken on a role that transcends her relative inexperience. Ricci Robben, born Aug. 19, 1986, may be the second youngest player on the UW roster, but her birth date is the only indication of her years. Her play thus far has made her look like a seasoned veteran.

Robben came to the Badgers from Napa, Calif., as a highly touted recruit along with Joey Daniels, with whom Robben played on the San Jose Strikkers club team. She brought with her a big bat and pitcher’s arm, having been named her league’s co-pitcher of the year after her junior season. Robben has started all but one game this season, mostly in the designated player spot, and she has made the most of it.

Robben has already set a Badger team record with two home runs in one game against Utah Feb. 27, where she also tied a UW record with six RBIs. Robben’s four home runs this season are good for third on the team and her 16 RBIs place her second. She has also hit for a .250 batting average, tops among Badger freshmen.

“[Robben]’s a strong girl and she has great bat speed,” head coach Karen Gallagher said. “I think that is so key for this level to have the bat speed that she does. I think that would be one of her strengths as a hitter.”

Wisconsin’s usual offensive pains have been relieved by the surprising pop in the Badger bats this season. The Badgers have already tied the team record for home runs in a season with 23 only 24 games into the season. With the young talent that came with Robben and Daniels, and the talent already in place with seniors Kris Zacher, Boo Gillette and Anastasia Miller, the Badgers have a lineup capable of churning out runs.

And Robben has been integral to the team’s offensive turnaround. Gallagher feels the freshman has been a key part to the team’s ability to drive in runs this year.

“[Robben]’s been one of our most, if not the most, consistent hitter with runners in scoring position,” Gallagher said. “You don’t see too many freshmen doing that very often.”

Robben may be young even for a freshman, but she is mature beyond her years. Gallagher glows about the freshman’s presence at the plate and her ability withstand any type of pressure. After struggling somewhat in the fall, she has come on strong since the regular season began and has not looked back.

“If you put the pressure on yourself, then you won’t do well,” Robben said. “You just need to go out there, relax and that’s when things will happen for you.”

Robben’s old club teammate Daniels has also been helpful in making the transition. Having played together in California, the two have naturally become friends in Wisconsin and have aided each other in succeeding at the Division I level.

“In the beginning of the fall, she wasn’t doing so well, and I knew how to talk to her and pump her up,” Daniels said. “Through my hitting slump, she was helping me out as well.”

Robben has also had to deal with the transition from being primarily a pitcher in high school to becoming an everyday starter in college at a position other than the mound. Robben began the season primarily as the team’s designated player, but has begun to see time in both right and left field.

“I like it,” Robben said of the position change. “It’s a change from what I normally do, pitch, but it’s a challenge. Getting back on the balls, my time is off and it’s hard to adjust to that.”

Though her immediate future appears to be in the outfield, Robben hopes she will soon make it back on the mound. She has been hampered by tendonitis in her throwing arm all season, making throwing somewhat of a challenge, let alone pitching to college athletes.

For now, though, she will have to be content ripping pitches over the fences and producing runs for a Badger team looking to establish itself in the Big Ten.