The Wisconsin softball team (3-5 Big Ten, 23-19 overall) will host an important Big Ten home series this weekend, taking on Indiana and Purdue. The IU series will be played Friday and Saturday, while the Purdue affair will be a Sunday doubleheader.
Four games in three days is nothing unusual for collegiate softball. That said, after already playing 42 games, four games in three days really starts to wear on the players.
\I see the kids, and yeah, they're a little tired,"" UW Head Coach Karen Gallagher said. ""I think it does take its toll. Between school ... and giving 100 percent to winning ballgames and what it takes in the Big Ten to do that is not an easy task.""
Players echo that sentiment but do not use it as an excuse.
""This is the time when you need to pick it up the most,"" junior shortstop Kris Zacher said. ""You're all fired up at the beginning of the season and then come midseason you're like, 'Oh my gosh, I've been playing for so long ... my body's killing me,' but this is the most important part of the season, so you can't really think about it. You just have to keep playing through it.""
And play through she has. Zacher comes into this weekend's series fresh off being named the Big Ten player of the week. She leads the team in nearly every major offensive category, including batting average (.368), home runs (four), and stolen bases (10).
Her exemplary performances have not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
""She's kind of carried the team, led the team, and has really evolved as a really great field leader for us,"" Gallagher said. ""She's just so confident in her game right now. She gets up to the plate, and I know she's going to make good contact ... I just think that her game has elevated this year.""
But while Zacher grabs the headlines with her gaudy stats, other players have also stepped up. Most notable is junior catcher Boo Gillette, who Gallagher says is poised for a Zacher-esque breakout weekend. Such a circumstance would not be a surprise though, because Gillette leads the team with 29 RBI's.
No matter which player steps up this weekend, it should help the Badgers cause, being that they are back at home. Despite having already played 42 games this season, this will be just the third time UW hosts an opponent at Goodman Diamond.
Finally being back home is a relief to many of the players, and Zacher expects nothing less than a sweep against the Hoosiers and Boilermakers, who rank 11th and tenth in the league, respectively.
""We need to sweep both teams,"" Zacher said. ""Three for four is definately doable for our team, but four for four would put us right back in the running for [the Big Ten title].""
With Michigan and Iowa sitting atop the conference with perfect 8-0 records, the Badgers still have intentions of capturing the Big Ten crown this season.
""It's wide open,"" Zacher said. ""You have [teams] beating [teams] that you'd never expect; there is no one complete top team.\
