Meet senior pitcher Nick Zacharias, an aspiring surgeon who is also engaged!

Position: Pitcher

Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Nickname: Z

Favorite baseball team: Brewers

Favorite baseball movie: Benchwarmers

Years of club ball service: 4

Notable stats: Having a zero era my sophomore year. Junior year pitching in the regional championship game and not allowing a run in six innings of work.

Favorite club baseball memory: Pitching against Eastern Kentucky and beating them freshman year because they went on to win the World Series that year.  

Favorite thing about club baseball: Road trips with the guys.

Career goals/dream job: I would like to become a surgeon.  

Quote: “Some days you win, some days you lose, some days it rains. And sometimes it rains and is 30 degrees and we still play.” – Bull Durham + Nick Zacharias

This Saturday, April 21, your D2 Badgers (14-2 overall, 10-1 Northern Plains Central) will host UW-La Crosse (9-1, 9-1) for the conference title and a trip to the postseason at 9 am on campus at the Near West field. Come join us for what should be a great battle!

Here is the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/436033936840649/

Get to know our super senior Andrew Wolfe. He is the former Vice President of the Club, our resident fishing expert (him and his dad own a Tampa Bay fishing record) and the team prankster.

Position: Pitcher, First Baseman

Hometown: Wausau, Wisconsin

Major: Rehab Psychology

Nickname: Long John Silver, Wolfie

Favorite baseball team: Brewers

Favorite baseball movie: The Rookie

Years of club ball service: 5

Notable stats: Lost one game on the mound in five years as a starter. (He also would like to make it clear that when he does get the chance to hit he “rakes.”)

Favorite club baseball memory: Beating DePaul by 17 runs after the benches cleared my freshman year.

Favorite thing about club baseball: The camaraderie and lasting friendships and ability to still compete at a high level. And cuddling with Bobby in Florida.

Career goals/dream job: I want to get my doctorate in physical therapy. I’d like to eventually work with a sports team or children and I potentially want to own my own practice.

Quote: “Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.” – Yogi Berra

Name: Austin Mullins

Position: Pitcher

Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin

Major: Finance & Risk Management, Insurance

Nickname: Mully

Favorite baseball team: Brewers

Favorite baseball movie: Benchwarmers

Years of club ball service: 4

Notables: National Pitcher of the Week, Two-time Conference Pitcher of the Week, Two-time All-Region Honors as a relief pitcher

Favorite club baseball memories:  Throwing a combined one hitter against Marquette in first-ever club appearance, throwing a complete-game shutout against UW-Whitewater and making a trip to Regionals all 3 years

Favorite thing about club baseball:  Getting to hang out with the guys while dominating on the field

Career goals/dream job: Work in the front office for a sports team or invent something that makes a ton of money

Quote: “Wait, I can say anything?!? Lol, bet.”

D1 started their season off on a high note, going 4-1 in Florida and getting several quality wins.

UW DI 8, Drexel DI 2

In its first time outside since October, the Badgers defeated the No. 5 ranked team in the nation. Sophomore Ryan Gassner and freshman Trey Mohr combined to allow just three hits.

Wisconsin clobbered six extra base hits, including a home run by freshman shortstop Chase Zernich. Freshman outfielder Gus Turner-Zick and sophomore outfielder Jared Eichorst each hit triples to help power the offense.

UCF DI 15, UW D1 1

The Badgers faced another top ten team in No. 8 UCF, the national runner ups a year ago, and fell in a tough game.

Zernich again shined at the plate, going 2-for-3. Freshman catcher Ryan Hubbell and sophomore center fielder Austin Grover each had doubles.

UW DI 7, Mizzou DI 6

The Badgers trailed by two in the bottom of the 7th, but rallied for three runs and a walk-off victory over the Tigers.

With one out, senior first baseman Nick Newburg singled to get the rally started. Hubbell and junior Justin Gorman followed with singles of their own to load the bases. Grover then reached on an error, scoring Newburg.

Turner-Zick knocked in Hubbell to tie the game and bring up senior second baseman Brian Mariska.

Mariska delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Gorman and give the Badgers the win. Mariska went 3-5 with a double and a home run in the game.

Freshman Nolan DeGreef threw all seven innings allowing just three earned runs and striking out six.

UW DI 16, Kent State DI 7

Wisconsin used a six-run third to power past Kent State.

Eichorst continued to rake, going 4-for-5 with a triple.

Five other Badgers had multi-hit games, including Hubbell who also drove in three runs.

UW DI 11, UCF DII 5

The Badgers were trailing 5-3 after seven innings, but plated eight runs in the eighth to defeat the Knights.

Freshman infielder Will Strauss had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

Mariska delivered the big hit in the eighth, driving a single that scored three runs, the last coming in on an error.

Next up for the Badgers after their impressive week is a three-game home series with UW-Eau Claire. They will play Friday at 7 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon, all at the Near West Field on campus.  

The No. 16-ranked Badgers compiled a 4-1 record in Tampa, starting off their season on the right foot.

UW DII 17, Stetson DII 6

Sophomore Ryan Molini allowed just one earned run in four innings of work and junior Jarrett Benson didn’t give up a run in relief to help the Badgers earn their first victory of the spring.

UW scored five runs in both the third and the fifth.

Senior Andrew Wolfe smacked a double and a triple and junior Tyler Behle scored four times.

UW DII 7, Mizzou DI 6 (8)

When Mizzou scored two runs in the top of the 7th to open up a four-run lead, it looked all but over.

But with just three outs left, Wisconsin rallied for four runs, thanks to clutch hits by freshman outfielder Jackson Preschler, junior outfielder Ryan Wenzel and junior second baseman Alexis Quintero, who ripped a single into left field to plate Preschler and tie the game at 6.

Senior Drew Rust went out for his second inning of work in the top of the 8th and held the Tigers scoreless, giving the Badgers a chance to win it in the bottom of the 8th.

With Molini on second, sophomore first basemen Karson Krueger turned on a fastball that hit the chalk over the first-base line, scoring Molini and giving UW its second win of the day.

Northwestern DI 9, Wisconsin 0

The bats went quiet against the Wildcats and the Badgers were unable to push anyone across the plate, falling for the first time in the spring.

Junior Jarrett Benson allowed just one earned run in relief for Wisconsin.

Wisconsin 3, UW-Whitewater DI 1

The Badgers avenged a tough loss to the Warhawks from last year’s spring training trip, this time grinding through a 3-1 victory.

Freshman Ryan Winters was stellar in his club baseball debut, pitching six scoreless innings. Sophomore Charlie Goldring closed the win out in the seventh.

Junior shortstop Jake Gain delivered the big hit, driving in senior catcher Bobby Ehrlich and senior center fielder Chris Trafton in the first inning with a double.

Wisconsin 3, USF DII 2

In perhaps its toughest game of the trip, the No. 16 Badgers took on the No. 15 USF Bulls, a team that has already won its conference and will be playing in the Dixie regional tournament.

The Badgers got down early, as senior Alec Nelson surrendered a two-out, two-RBI single that put the Bulls up 2-0 in the first.

But that would be all USF would score for the rest of the game.

Nelson would settle in for the next two innings, quieting the Bulls bats.

Senior Andrew Wolfe then entered the game and tossed two shutout innings himself.

In the 5th, Gain drove in junior outfielder J.J. Lambl with a scorcher down the left field line to cut the USF lead in half.

The deep Wisconsin staff continued to shut down the USF bats, as senior Nick Zacharias fired two scoreless innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, freshman Tony Spence came up clutch, smacking a two-RBI double into the gap to give Wisconsin a 3-2 lead.

Junior Aaron Van Deurzen then pitched a flawless eighth before handing the ball over to Rust.

With the tying run on third and two outs, Rust got the USF three hitter to ground out to Spence, giving the Badgers a big non-conference victory.

Next up for Wisconsin is UW-Stevens Point. They will host the Dawgs at the Near West field on campus at 4 p.m. Saturday April 7th and for a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday April 8th. We hope that you come out to the field for some spring baseball!

A year after falling in the semifinal game of the regional tournament, Wisconsin’s D1 team is looking for more.

The Badgers graduated five players from that team, including ace pitcher Alex Noel. But they reloaded on the hill this year, as sophomore Ryan Gassner, an all-state pitcher in high school joined the squad.

Gassner is a hard-throwing lefty who figures to play a prominent role in Wisconsin’s rotation.

Along with Gassner, Joe Fahning, who comes up to the D1 team after two years with the D2 squad, brings another powerful arm to the pitching staff. Freshman Nolan DeGreef is another newcomer for the Badgers and like Gassner and Fahning, throws hard with a nasty breaking ball. A final rookie, freshman Trey Mohr, will add much-needed depth for UW.

Wisconsin returns plenty of arms as well. Nick Newburg is back for his fourth year of service with the club and junior Colin Schrof enters his second year on the D1 squad after a strong sophomore campaign.

Senior Austin Mullins, who has proven to be a shutdown reliever in three seasons with UW, also returns, as well as senior James Oelke, a consistent strike-thrower.

Offensively, the Badgers will have just as much firepower as usual.

Ed Olson, the team’s offensive MVP in 2017, returns for his senior season and moves from the outfield to the infield — his natural position.

Also returning in the infield is senior Brian Mariska, a slick defender who consistently hits for a high average.

Junior Tyler Safgren takes over starting catching duties upon John Raff’s departure and will provide a serious power threat in the middle of the lineup.

The Badgers’ outfield will have an entire new look to it in 2018. Austin Grover, Jared Eichorst and Gus Turner-Zick will man the grass, giving the Badgers an all-Wisconsin raised outfield.

Grover, a Beloit Memorial product, will provide spectacular defense in centerfield.

Eichorst, who played his high school ball at Madison Memorial with Newburg, will join Safgren as a legitimate home-run threat every time he steps to the plate.

Freshman Turner-Zick, who attended Stevens Point high school, was an all-state outfielder last year and brings stellar defense and an excellent bat.

In addition to those rookies, freshmen Chase Zernich and Will Strauss are both talented middle infielders who will make an immediate impact for UW.

After falling just short of its goal of reaching the World Series last season, Wisconsin has reloaded and has the talent, depth and experience to make a deep postseason run in 2018.

Wisconsin came up just shy of reaching the World Series in 2017, falling in the regional championship game to eventual national runner-up Windsor University. 

This year, the Badgers are hungry for a World Series berth — and have the personnel to get there.

On the mound, senior Alec Nelson returns for his final season after throwing 24 straight scoreless innings his junior year, along with a no-hitter against UW-La Crosse. 

Fifth-year senior Andrew Wolfe is back for another campaign. The tall righty has lost just one game in his club baseball career.

Sophomore Ryan Molini, a hard-throwing righty, is expected to play a more prominent role in the rotation this year.

Senior Drew Rust, another fireballer, hopes to continue the success he’s seen in his career and figures to be the squad’s closer.  

The Badgers also hope to get quality innings from the LA boys. Freshman Ryan Winters and sophomore Charlie Goldring are two newcomers who both hail from Los Angeles and will take their first shot at battling the bitterly cold Wisconsin spring this year.

Offensively, seniors Chris Trafton and Bobby Ehrlich return and are looking to have big seasons at the plate.

2017 offensive MVP Jake Gain returns looking to build on his impressive rookie campaign.

Junior Tyler Behle is finally fully healthy after an injury-riddled 2017 and will provide a powerful bat in the middle of the lineup. Leadoff hitter and second baseman Alexis Quintero also returns for the Badgers. Junior right fielder Ryan Wenzel, who may just be the toughest out in the NCBA, comes back as well. 

Newcomer first basemen Karson Krueger brings serious power to the Badgers’ lineup and will look to make an impact right away, along with freshmen Jackson Preschler, a smooth outfielder, and Tony Spence and Cam Polce, both slick infielders.

The Badgers most valuable asset is their depth. The aforementioned names represent just the beginning of this deep and talented team, which will be a serious advantage for Wisconsin when it enters its jam-packed conference schedule.

With 19 returning players and a strong cast of new faces, the D2 squad looks poised to make a run in 2018.

Meet senior pitcher Drew Rust, a hard-throwing righty with a fiery competitive spirit. 

Position: Pitcher

Hometown: Janesville, Wisconsin

Major: Biochemistry

Nickname: Shark, Rusty Nails, Rusty Trombone, Iron Oxide

Favorite baseball team: Cardinals

Favorite baseball movie: Major League, the original because I’m a “Big Charlie Sheen Guy.”

Years of club ball service: 4

Notable stats: 0.00 ERA sophomore year

Favorite club baseball memory: Sweeping Michigan Tech in Houghton in 30 degree weather with the boys during my junior year

Favorite thing about club baseball: The people you meet

Career goals/dream job: Doctor

Where do you see yourself in five, ten years: Pitcher for the Cardinals, doctor in the offseason.

Quote: “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, only this time more intelligently” – Henry Ford

Meet senior pitcher Eric Van Wazer, a former non-travel player who worked hard to get called up to the D2 team his sophomore year.

Position: Pitcher

Hometown: Arlington Heights, Illinois

Major: Geological Engineering

Nickname: Waze Craze, Waze Train, Wild thing, Waze Experience, Waze Machine, Waze Piece

Favorite baseball team: White Sox

Favorite baseball movie: 42

Years of club ball service: 4

Favorite club baseball memory: Throwing 3 scoreless innings on the anniversary of my friend’s death junior year

Best thing about club baseball: The weekend road trips with the boys

Career goals/dream job: Ultimately I’d like to be the next Marlins Man

Where do you see yourself in five, ten years: Somewhere out west designing renewable energy systems

Quote: “No I don’t want to eat at that place. It’s so crowded nobody goes there anymore” -Yogi Berra