After 29 straight road games to open up their season, Badger softball (2-4 Big Ten, 13-16 overall, returns home this weekend for a four-game homestand. They open Friday at 6 p.m. against Michigan, and play them again at noon Saturday. Next, Sunday the Badgers square off against Michigan State in a double header with the first game starting at noon. All of the games will take place at Goodman diamond.
The Badgers are happy to be back home in their own beds and not boarding a bus or plane for the first time in as many weeks. Excited to be playing in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, the home opener bodes well for the team, which has never lost one in its seven-year history.
\Just being at your own field is a huge advantage, and we always play well at home so I'm really looking forward to it,"" Head Coach Karen Gallagher said.
Wisconsin's sub-par record thus far has not met the expectations of the coaches or players. However, both have seen improvements as of late and know that solid play this weekend will be critical for any hope of turning the season around.
""The one thing I really love about this team is that they don't give up. We've seemed a lot more confident [lately] and we have the energy to be a little more aggressive,"" Gallagher said.
""We should've won more games. It's a little disappointing but we just have to build from here and get better,"" senior pitcher Andrea Kirchberg said.
Kirchberg leads the Badgers with 11 wins, 11 losses and a 0.99-earned run average. She has compiled 210 strikeouts compared to a mere 43 walks in 149 innings pitched.
Sophomore catcher Boo Gillette leads the team offensively with a .300 batting average and 13 runs batted in. She also leads in hits, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, to name a few.
The Badgers will need to combine their efforts both offensively and defensively this weekend if they hope to come out victorious. The Spartans (4-1, 24-9) come in tied for first in the Big Ten conference and the Wolverines (3-1, 21-8) sit only one game back in the standings. Wins over two top teams would not only help the Badgers out in the conference standings, but could give them the confidence and spark that they need to go on a run.
""We just need to be aggressive at the plate and play sound defense. We need to just relax out there,"" Kirchberg said.
""It's a big weekend for us and we tend to step up when we need to. So we have to play our best ball and take advantage of being home now,"" Gallagher said.
Sitting in 10th place in the Big Ten, the Badgers know that they have underachieved so far this season. Nevertheless, a solid homestand this weekend will start them off in the right direction if they hope to finish this season with a winning record.
