The UW softball team is on an offensive tear, the likes of which have not been seen in Madison in quite some time. With three starters hitting over .320 this season, the Badgers have the offensive punch that a Big Ten team needs to find success.
Shortstop Kristen Zacher, catcher Boo Gillette and outfielder Anastasia Miller, all seniors, have each knocked out four home runs this season. Zacher, who is hitting .375 in 48 at-bats, is UW's biggest offensive threat. She can hit for average and power and is a threat to steal a bag when on base.
Following her in the four-spot in the lineup is Gillette who has been a mainstay in UW's power stats for her four-year career.
\We are stacked up and down the lineup. Even off the bench we can put anyone in any spot and they can get the job done,"" Zacher said. ""We should be a powerhouse this year.""
The Badgers (9-8-0 overall) open the Big Ten portion of the season tonight against Ohio State. Last year, UW missed out on postseason action and posted a 6-14 Big Ten record and went 29-28 overall while Ohio State finished 8-11 in the conference and 35-25 overall.
""[Ohio State] is always a good hitting team,"" head coach Karen Gallagher said. ""We're all motivated. The Big Ten is a fight to the end. It usually comes down to that last weekend of play where we're all battling for that last spot in the tournament. They want to get back to the tournament just like we do.""
Wisconsin pitchers, like sophomore Eden Brock (7-4) and senior Katie Layne (2.30 ERA), have pitched well so far. Brock, however, has been the Badgers' mainstay as she has thrown only 14.2 fewer innings than the rest of Wisconsin's pitching staff combined.
""The key for us is to make [opposing] batters earn their way on. I think we've walked a few too many this year,"" Gallagher said.
Regardless of walks, the Badgers' pitching does not seem like it will be an Achilles heel this season. When Wisconsin wins, it wins big, while losses have mostly come in close games where the offense has failed to produce.
As every good team knows, making mistakes in close games is not a good idea. The Badgers have shown some vulnerability in the defensive aspect of the game and these mistakes have cost the team.
""We just need to be a little more consistent in our defensive play,"" Gallagher said. ""We're probably making too many errors for this point in the season. [Good defense] kind of takes pressure off [pitchers] so that will help our game all around.""
Senior leadership will help propel this team to a higher level of play. Six senior starters gives this team a familiarity with one another that will hopefully allow the team to lock down on defense.
""We'll be fine. So far we just haven't put it all together,"" Zacher said.
Watch out for when they do.
