While most UW students will be kicking back and relaxing on their spring breaks, the Wisconsin softball team will be hard at work.
To begin its break, the team travels to Gainesville, Fla., to play in the Gator Invitational March 22-24. The following weekend, UW will open its Big Ten season at home against Purdue March 29 and 30. Then, to finish off their spring break play, the team will host Illinois on Easter Sunday in a competitive double header.
The No. 25 Badgers go into spring break fresh off of their success in the Capital Classic. The team went 5-2, its only losses coming at the hands of No.5 Nebraska and No.6 California.
“You go out there and win five out of seven games, that is a good showing,” head coach Karen Gallagher said.
“We won the games we were supposed to win and competed well against the fifth and sixth-ranked teams in the country. We were one hit away, one pitch away and we were close to winning those games,” she continued.
The team started out the tournament winning its first three games, beating St. Mary’s 10-2, Long Island 5-1 and Utah State 4-2. Freshman Kristin Zacker led the way for the Badgers with a homerun and 7 RBIs in the games.
UW went on to lose to Nebraska 2-1 and then battle back to beat San Jose State 7-2 and Syracuse 5-3. Senior Kerry Hagen stepped up at the plate to contribute three RBIs and 4-7 hitting in the two contests.
Making their way to the tournament semi-finals, the Badgers were unable to hold on for the win as they eventually lost 1-0 to No.6 California, who lost to No.5 Nebraska in the championship game.
Junior pitcher Andrea Kirchberg was named to the All-Tournament team after going 2-2 in the event, posting a 1.00 ERA, striking out 34 batters and pitching 28.0 innings.
“Andrea just steps up against better competition, which goes to show she can pitch against anybody,” Gallagher said. “She has been the leader of this team and the team plays with a lot of confidence behind her.”
Gallagher is not the only one impressed with Kirchberg; her teammates are as well.
“Andrea has been solid for us all year,” co-captain Meghann Reiss said. “We all know that when she pitches it is going to be a good game.”
With this in mind, the team is hoping Kirchberg can has another impressive outing when the team travels south to the Gator Invitational this weekend. In the event, the Badgers will face Florida, Samford and Maine.
While UW looks to be the clear favorite of the tournament, the team is still taking the weekend seriously.
“These are the games you have to focus on a little harder because you think going into these games that they are ones you should win and we aren’t quite there yet,” Gallagher said. “We have to play every game as though we are playing the top teams in the country. These are good games to get our hitting going into the Big Ten season.”
The Badgers will open their Big Ten season Friday, March 29 at home against Purdue and will face the Boilers again the next day. Then Easter Sunday the Fighting Illini will come to town for what promises to be a fierce double header.
“I feel like we are in a good place and that we are as ready as any other Big Ten team,” Gallagher said. “The Big Ten is highly competitive; on any given weekend any team can win.”
Let the games begin.
