The Badgers finally got outdoors and took the field for the first time this season in an up and down weekend in Arizona. With five games in a three-day span, Wisconsin got its first look at this year’s team against some of the best squads in the country.

The Badgers were one of six teams — four of which were ranked — competing in the warmth of the Fiesta Bowl Tournament this weekend in Phoenix. Aside from practicing indoors, this was the first opportunity this year for the team to step foot on a softball diamond.

“There’s not so much rust,” catcher Boo Gillette said. “Just new faces, new blood in the infield trying to get everyone on the same page. It’s a young team. It’s a whole new team this year.”

As was expected, the season opener was a little rough against Mississippi State.

“The first game was pretty much the Bad News Bears,” Gillette said. “It’s expected. We hadn’t been on the clay in a couple months.”

The Badgers gave up six runs early in the game and could not recover as they fell 9-2. While Wisconsin was beleaguered by mistakes in its first game, it rallied back later in the day against #15 Fresno State. The Badgers’ bats came out hot as they pounded 13 hits in an 8-4 win.

The second day of the tournament was a true test for the team. They started by facing last year’s national runner-up, No. 2 Arizona. Wisconsin kept pace with the Wildcats in an absolute defensive battle. The Badgers just could not get anything going at the plate as Arizona tossed a no-hitter. However, the Badgers answered back with a strong performance by pitcher Andrea Kirchberg, who gave up only three hits. That was one too many, as a solo homerun put the only run on the board in a 1-0 loss for Wisconsin.

Coming off a heartbreaker, the Badgers had no chance to rest as they took on No. 12 Texas. Worn down from its last game, Wisconsin struggled. The Badgers only got one hit in the game, their only one of the day, as they fell 8-1 to the Longhorns.

Wisconsin’s hitting was practically nonexistent, but Gillette and the Badgers aren’t too concerned.

“Our hitting will be there,” Gillette said. “It’s a little behind right now, but it’s coming through when we need it. We’re getting the hits when we need them.”

This was the case in Wisconsin’s final game of the tournament against No. 23 Oregon State. Kirchberg was on fire from the mound, falling just short of her own record and striking out 14 in a three-hit masterpiece. The rest of the Badgers took advantage of Oregon State’s mistakes and finally put some runs together as Wisconsin closed out the weekend with a 3-1 victory.

Finishing 2-3 in the first tournament was a little disappointing for the team, but they are glad to get the jitters out.

“It’s good to have that first tournament under our belt,” coach Karen Gallagher said. “We were a little more excited than normal because of the youth and high expectations. It’s like that first at-bat: Let’s get it out of the way so we can understand what we’re all about and keep building on it.”

The Badgers have that chance this weekend as they escape the snow and head to North Carolina for the Triangle Classic. The competition will not be nearly as tough with the likes of James Madison, UNC-Greensboro and Fordham. While the Badgers did not fare well this past weekend, they would rather play the tougher opponents.

“I like playing the big teams,” Gillette said. “Everyone thinks that the coach throws us to the wolves because she takes us to a top 25 tournament in our first tournament. But we need that. We can be a top 25 team. We were last year. You have to beat the best to be one of the best.”

This weekend should be a chance for Wisconsin to shake off the rust and tune up their game. Twenty-four teams will compete under bracket play, and if the right winners advance, the Badgers could face Big Ten rivals Illinois and Michigan State.

The Badgers are eager to get back on the dirt and like their chances in North Carolina.

“We’re not going to see the top 25,” Gallagher said. “I think we’re the best team there, [and] it’d be a great opportunity to win our first tournament as a program. We have to hit better, score runs, be more consistent on defense and be a better communicating team. But, things are going to come with game experience.”