The spring break schedule was not kind to the Wisconsin softball team. The Badgers won their first game, but dropped the next four straight. They managed to split the trip’s remaining four games, but at 3-6, it was a rather disappointing road trip.

Now 20 games into the season and preparing for Big Ten play, the Badgers are below .500 at 9-11. At this juncture last year, they were four games above the .500 mark at 12-8, looking like a team ready to make some noise in the conference. This year’s squad was supposed to be an improved team that returned seven starters, all of its pitchers and brought in one of the best recruiting classes in years. However, the team has not had the start to the season many anticipated.

“At some level I am a little disappointed in where we’re at,” head coach Karen Gallagher said. “I thought we’d be a little more ahead of the game, but this is our season right here, and if they’re going to step up, this is a good time to do it.”

Perhaps the most confounding aspect of the Badgers’ early-season struggles has been the nature of the team’s failings. Last season the Badgers were a reliable defensive team behind a staff that pitched to draw contact, but the offense struggled to put runs on the board and the team continually lost 2-1 and 1-0 games.

Now the problem is just the opposite. Wisconsin has found some pop in its bats, knocking 18 home runs already, just one short of its total for all of last season. But the team has struggled on defense, making costly errors that have let games slip away.

“We’re capable of playing good defense,” Gallagher said. “I think we need to overcome our mental mistakes a little bit more and we’ve got to be on top of our game from here on out.”

At one point during the spring break road trip, in a scoreless game against Florida International, the Badgers committed three errors in the top of the third inning and gave up two unearned runs as FIU went on to win the game 6-2. Sloppy play like that has been a complete reversal for the normally consistent Wisconsin defense, and it has been particularly costly due to the pitching staff’s reliance on groundouts. With a pitching staff that does not look for the strikeout, Wisconsin’s defensive inconsistencies have been magnified.

While the defense has struggled, the offense has been on fire. Wisconsin has not only hit 18 home runs already this season, but the Badgers have blasted three in one game for the first time in team history — on three separate occasions. The Badgers are also hitting a collective .261, an improvement from last season’s .246 team average.

“I think the kids are stronger this year, they’re quicker, we’ve been working on bat speed a little more, and I think that’s really been a key for us,” Gallagher said.

While the early offensive returns have been encouraging, Gallagher believes the team could capitalize on more of its chances.

“I’d like to see us actually be a little more consistent when there are runners in scoring position,” Gallagher said. “We’re doing a good job setting the table, but we’re just not getting the runners around to score.”

A possible explanation for some of the inconsistencies has been an ever-changing infield. The lone position with a consistent starter has been first base, where Meghann Reiss has played all season. The rest of the infield has been in an almost constant upheaval due to injuries and overall inconsistency; third base, second base and catcher have each seen two different starters, while shortstop has had three this season.

“At this point you want to have a set lineup, but there’s been some inconsistent play on the part of some of our players, and I think any coach will say that whoever’s consistent is in the lineup,” Gallagher said.

Senior Boo Gillette and freshman Joey Daniels have toggled between third base and catcher. Daniels, who began the year as the starter at third, is being groomed to take over at catcher once Gillette leaves. At shortstop, Athena Vasquez, who normally plays second or third, took over while Kris Zacher was injured. Lynn Anderson has also seen time at shortstop. Junior Kaitlin Reiss substituted at second while Vasquez filled in for Zacher.

“When you’re a ballplayer at this level, you need to be able to be moved around everywhere,” Gillette said. “Our infield is so solid that I feel you can mix around with any different lineup and still be comfortable with each other.”

With the opening of the Big Ten conference season looming on the horizon, Wisconsin will look to overcome the early defensive shortcomings that have negated the team’s power binge at the plate.

“You need both (offense and defense) … I think you have to play complete ball,” Gallagher said. “At this level, you can’t have a weak aspect of your game because a good team will take advantage of that.”