Laura Van Abel enjoyed the best single-game hitting performance in UW-Stevens Point softball history in leading the Pointers to a season-opening sweep of Augsburg on Friday in Minneapolis.

Van Abel hit for the cycle and finished six-for-six with seven RBI's as the Pointers pounded out a single-game school record 19 hits to beat the Auggies 16-6 in the second game of the doubleheader. UW-Stevens Point also had a big offensive performance in the first game with 12 hits in a 9-1 win in Augsburg's indoor facility.

Van Abel's six hits were a single-game school record. She also became just the 13th player in NCAA Division III history and first since 1998 to record six hits in a game. Van Abel was one-for-three with an RBI in the first game to finish seven-for-nine for the day.

Stephanie Anderson (Milwaukee/King) pitched a complete game four-hitter in the opening game and then retired all nine batters faced in the second game to earn a save in relief of winning pitcher Hope Krause (Mishicot/Mishicot). Anderson added a school record of her own in the second game by drawing five walks in five plate appearances. The Pointers drew a single-game school record 10 walks in the second game.

UW-Stevens Point scored in every inning and won the opener in six innings by the eight-run rule. Danielle Ashbeck (Wabeno/Wabeno) and Chelsea McIlquham (Sun Prairie/Sun Prairie) were each three-for-four and McIlquham broke the game open with a two-run double in the fifth.

The Pointers trailed 4-0 after two innings in the second game, but then put up five runs in the third as Van Abel hit a three-run homer and McIlquham had a two-run single. Van Abel, who had a single in the first inning added a run-scoring triple in the third, and a RBI double in the fourth. She also had singles in each of the next two innings before ending the game on deck.

Korryn Brooks (Stevens Point/SPASH) gave the Pointers an 11-6 lead with a three-run homer in the fifth. She finished three-for-six with four RBI's. Mandy Jellish (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) was three-for-four and Melissa Boldt (New Berlin/Eisenhower) was two-for-three.