[media-credit name=’DEREK MONTGOMERY/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Starters Athena Vasquez and Kristin Zacher have returned to the lineup for the University of Wisconsin softball team (6-5) after missing time due to injury.

After a six-game absence with an ankle sprain, Zacher returns at shortstop. Vasquez moves back to her usual position at second base after a brief absence, also due to a sprained ankle. Prior to her injury, Vasquez had filled in for Zacher at short.

The return of Vasquez and Zacher, who are both major contributors, should give the Badgers a lift.

“When you have two great athletes that excel in the game it’s only going to help us be a stronger team,” head coach Karen Gallagher said. “They are both phenomenal athletes so I think they are going to help us tremendously.”

Zacher won the team MVP award last year and has started all four years of her UW career. Last season, the shortstop set UW single-season school records in hits (63) and total bases (91) and matched the school record for triples (3). Sitting out with the ankle sprain was a new and humbling experience for her.

“It’s good to be back out playing again,” Zacher said. “It’s good to be back for my teammates and feeling like part of the team again. It’s really hard to contribute off the field. My role has always been on the field.”

Vasquez also expressed relief that the lineup will now return to normal.

Last year, Vasquez garnered the team’s defensive player of the year award. With her return, the Badgers have a solid middle-infield.

At the Tulsa Invitational this past weekend, expectations rose with the return of Zacher and Vasquez. The returning Badgers continued to feel the lingering effects of their injuries, however, and the team finished a modest 3-2.

“I expected a 5-0 weekend,” Gallagher said. “I think this weekend [Zacher and Vasquez] were both still a little tender with their injuries.”

The Badgers should improve once Zacher and Vasquez are back to full strength, Gallagher said.

“Once [Zacher and Vasquez] are 100 percent they are really going to add a lift to our team,” Gallagher said. “I think we could probably have the best middle-infield in the Big Ten.”

Power surge: Gallagher’s squad set the single-game team record for home runs (3) Feb. 27 when they faced Utah at the Palm Springs Classic. Just six days later, the Badgers tied the record by hitting three homers to top Tulsa 4-3 at the Tulsa Invitational. Thus far, the Badgers have demonstrated a power stroke never before seen from the cardinal and white.

“I love having that power,” Gallagher said. “Home runs are exciting, they’re fun, they can put you right back in a ball game.”

The addition of freshman Ricci Robben to the lineup has fueled the Badgers’ recent power surge. Robben set an individual Badger record when she blasted two home runs in the game against Utah. She also tied the UW single-game mark with 6 RBI in that contest.

“It felt good to let my team know that I could be there and do that for them,” Robben said. “We have a lot of powerful hitters.”

Gallagher sees a bright future in store for her newest slugger.

“I think [Robben] could be one of the best hitters in Wisconsin history,” Gallagher said. “It has been fun to have her in the lineup.”

Robben currently shares the team lead in home runs with Anastasia Miller. Robben and Miller are two of many powerful bats in the UW lineup, capable of going deep any time they step to the plate.

“Three-fourths of our lineup is able to hit home runs,” Zacher said. “I think out of my four years, this is the most power we’ve had in our lineup.”

Coach Gallagher hopes the home run trend will continue, but stressed the importance of fundamentals even in the midst of a power surge.

“[Home runs] change the momentum of a game real quick,” Gallagher said. “You can’t rely on that. You have to do the little things. The teams that win play good defense, have consistent hitting and good pitching.”