After a strong showing last weekend in the Palm Springs Classic, the UW softball team (3-3 overall) heads to Oklahoma this weekend looking to build off its success at the Embassy Suites Tulsa Invitational.
\We went out last weekend and we played really well,"" sophomore pitcher Eden Brock said. ""We fought with all of the teams, including some of the best teams in the nation. I think that we've definitely shown people that we're a good team and that we can play with the best of them.""
In the Palm Springs Classic, UW won three of five, including a win over a ranked opponent (a 1-0 victory over No. 23 Long Beach State). One of the primary reasons for the Badgers' success is they have been getting solid contributions from both upper and lower classmen.
""We have a nice mix of youth and veterans on our team, and I think when you have that type of energy, when you have talented young freshmen they push your starters, seniors, and veteran players to improve their game,"" head coach Karen Gallagher said.
That proved to be true last weekend as UW got exceptional performances from freshman pitcher/outfielder Ricci Robben (two home runs, six RBI versus Utah), Brock (shutout versus Long Beach State and career-high nine strikeouts versus Cal State-Fullerton) and senior left-fielder Anasastia Miller, who was named Big Ten Player of the Week after going 8-of-13 with two home runs and four RBI.
But even in defeat the Badgers showed that they are not a team to be taken lightly. The Badgers came back from a five run deficit to force extra innings versus. No. 18 Oregon State and took No. 3 UCLA to the brink in a 2-0 loss. Fortunately, both of those games provided the Badgers with something to build on.
""It's definitely a confidence booster because we held [UCLA] to only two runs and they're the number three team in the nation."" Robben said. ""It shows that we can hang with any team.""
According to Coach Gallagher, the goal for this weekend is to just continue to improve in all areas, to play consistently and get on the board first.
""The goal for this week is to continue what we did last week. We want to execute well, get good solid pitching and score some runs for our pitchers,"" she said. ""When we score early it seems to really help our team, it gives us a lot of confidence so a goal of ours is to attack for the get-go.""
In this weekend's Embassy Suites Tulsa Invitational the Badgers will play Louisiana-Monroe and Wichita State on Friday, Oklahoma State and Tulsa Saturday and North Texas Sunday.
