PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The ninth-ranked UW-Stevens Point baseball team fell today in its first game down in Florida by a score of 11-7 to Ohio Wesleyan at South Charlotte Regional Park.

The Pointers fall to 1-2 this season, while Ohio Wesleyan improves to 8-3 in their last game down in Florida. Stevens Point is now 2-2 all-time against the Bishops. It is the first time the teams have met since the 2000 season when they split a doubleheader down in Florida.

The Pointers got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. After a scoreless second inning, the Bishops got two runs in the top of third to tie the game up 2-2. Ohio Wesleyan then got a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth to make the score 3-2. After an error by Stevens Point, the Bishops got a two-run RBI single with two outs to extend their lead to 5-2.

Ohio Wesleyan scored two more runs in the top of the fifth to make the score 7-2. The Pointers cut into that lead in the bottom of the inning, getting a run back. However, the Bishops then put four runs on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth to make it 11-3. The Pointers squandered an opportunity in the bottom of the sixth as they had the bases loaded with two outs, but grounded out to end the inning.

Mitch Kouba (Maribel/Denmark) (Fr.-Maribel/Denmark) made his first collegiate appearance on mound and impressed as he pitched three scoreless innings for Stevens Point, allowing just one hit and striking out two to keep the Pointers in the game.

Stevens Point made a late rally as it scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 11-6. Then in the bottom of the ninth, the Pointers had runners at first and second with one out, but Stevens Point made a base running error on a deep fly ball that fell into play and the hitter passed the runner at first, making it two outs with runners at the corners. The Pointers got one run on a balk, but that would be it as Ohio Wesleyan won 11-7.

Garrett Nix (Osseo/Osseo-Fairchild) (Jr.-Osseo-Osseo-Fairchild) received the loss on the mound for Stevens Point. The Pointers pitching staff finished with nine walks, two hit batters on the day. Transfer Sam Spurney (Manitowoc/Manitowoc Lincoln) (So.-Manitowoc/Lincoln) was the team's leading hitter as he was 3-for-5.

The Pointers will face Loras College in a doubleheader tomorrow with action beginning at 11 a.m. local time.