Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

STEVENS POINT – The 20th-ranked UW-Stevens Point softball team split its home and conference opener today at McCarty Field winning game one in dramatic fashion 4-3 in eight innings, but falling in a game two by a score of 8-1.

The split give the Pointers a 13-3 overall record and a 1-1 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) mark. La Crosse has an overall record of 13-4 and is 1-1 in the WIAC after two games.

In game one, the Pointers scored two runs in its first frame as Samantha Bizeau (Gladstone, MI/Gladstone) (Fr.-Gladstone, MI) hit a two-run single to score both Elyse Nelson (Batavia, IL/Batavia) (Fr.-Batavia, IL) and Niki Schomer (Marinette/Marinette) (Sr.-Marinette). Aided by some Stevens Point errors in the top of the second, the Eagles quickly tied the game at 2-2. However, the Pointers regained the lead in the bottom of the inning as Laura Van Abel (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) (Sr.-Kaukauna) hit a RBI triple to score Danielle Ashbeck (Wabeno/Wabeno) (Sr.-Wabeno) and make the score 3-2. The triple was the fifth for the season for Van Abel and her 13th of her career, which ties a school record held by Kari Rowekamp from 1995-98.

The score remained 3-2 until the top of the seventh. Stevens Point was one strike away from ending the game until Liz Bradley hit a solo home run over the right center field fence to send the game into extra innings. After La Crosse went down in order in the top of the eighth, the Pointers had their turn to break the tie. Melissa Wenig (Oshkosh/West) (So.-Oshkosh/West) drew a walk with a one out. After a sacrifice moved her to second, Mallory Martens (Green Bay/Preble) (Fr.-Green Bay/Preble) came in to pinch hit and the moved paid off as Martens drilled a shot over the centerfielder's head to score Wenig as the Pointers won 4-3.

Kayla Kastenmeier (Ashwaubenon/Ashwaubenon) (So-Ashwaubenon) (8-1) went the whole way for the Pointers on the mound as she struck out five and allowed just one earned run, while giving up five hits in eight innings. Danielle Ashbeck (Wabeno/Wabeno) was 2-for-3 to lead Stevens Point at the plate.

Unfortunately game two was a different story for the Pointers. Stevens Point threw out a runner at the plate in the first, however, the Eagles still managed to put two runs on the scoreboard to take an early lead. La Crosse added three more runs in the third and to take a 5-0 lead. A two-run single in the fourth made it 7-0. The Eagles added another run before the Pointers finally broke through with a RBI single by Sarah Butts (Greenfield/Greenfield) (Fr.-Greenfield) to score Kimberly Liegel (Madison/LaFollette) (Fr.-Madison/LaFollette) in the seventh and make the final score 8-1. The eight runs were the most given up this season by the Pointers.

Hope Krause (Mishicot/Mishicot) (Sr.-Mishicot) (4-1) received the loss on the mound for Pointers, her first of the season. It was Krause's first appearance since March 17th against Amherst. Stevens Point finished with seven hits in the game.

The Pointers will go on the road on Saturday when they face UW-Whitewater for a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.