This weekend the Wisconsin women’s softball team heads into the stretch run of the Big Ten season. The Badgers take on the Penn State Nittany Lions Friday and Saturday and the Ohio State Buckeyes in a double-header Sunday at Goodman Diamond.

In search of their first home win of the season, the Badgers enter the game with a record of 3-11 in the Big Ten and 14-23 overall. This weekend presents an opportunity to get that first home win on the season, a win coach Karen Gallagher feels pretty confident about.

“This weekend it’s going to happen,” Gallagher said. “We just need to play good, solid ball.”

Not only can the Badgers get their first home victory, but they also have a chance to snap a nasty three-game losing streak.

The task will not be easy; Penn State (6-6 Big Ten, 24-17 overall) strolls into town with a big win over Iowa under its belt and most recently a victory over the nationally ranked Michigan Wolverines. Penn State hangs its hat on hitting the baseball, with three players batting over .300. Gina Bianchini leads the barrage with a .344 average. The outfielder had a part in the 1-0 upset of No. 13 Michigan April 20, going two for four from the plate.

The Badgers need to slow down Bianchini and company, and the weight of that responsibility falls on senior pitcher Andrea Kirchberg. She was roughed up a bit in her second-to-last outing against Illinois as she gave up a walk-off home run to Jenna Hall of the Illini. This weekend is a different story, as Kirchberg looks to restore some of that confidence. Gallagher talks frankly about her senior.

“Andrea’s going to have to step it up this weekend,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher says they have leaned on Kirchberg all year long without fail and they are not going to stop now. Kirchberg has been carrying the load all season long, pitching 190.1 innings of the team’s 259.2 total innings.

Following the Penn State series, Ohio State (4-6 Big Ten, 23-18 overall) comes to Madison Sunday for a doubleheader. The Buckeyes are among the league leaders in pitching, posting a 1.48 ERA as a team, led by junior Kristi Devries, who is sixth in the Big Ten in overall ERA (1.26).

The Badger bats need to come to life if they want to earn a victory over the tough pitching of the Buckeyes.

“We are coming around with the bats,” said Gallagher.

The bats will have to provide some leeway for UW’s pitching staff, which will already have two games in as many days. The team has been able to hang tough with teams, and that fact alone offers hope for this coming weekend.

The Badgers have been hanging tough these last eight games, but in there last three specifically, the team has lost by a combined four runs.

“We’re just not finishing,” Gallagher said.

Finishing has been a problem, but she blame that on pitch location, not fatigue on the part of the pitching staff.

“With the power hitters, Andrea has to remember to keep the ball down and away,” said Gallagher.

That skill will aid her tremendously as Kirchberg takes the mound against the hard=hitting Nittany Lions.

Although the Badgers are slated to play four games in three days this weekend, they are not concerned about fatigue.

“We have four games most weekends,” sophomore catcher Boo Gillette commented. “It’s not going to be a factor.”

In addition, the team had a game scheduled this Tuesday, April 22, at UW-Green Bay, but the game was cancelled due to poor field conditions. The players took full advantage of the rest and should be refreshed for the big weekend.