MARQUETTE, Mich. – Lauren Watkins (Baraboo/Baraboo) and Katie Krueger (Plover, WI/SPASH) led the UW-Stevens Point softball team offensively as they opened up their 2011 campaign winning three out of four games Saturday and Sunday in the Finlandia Invitational held in the Superior Dome.

UWSP 9 - Hope College 8
UWSP 3 - Simpson College 17
UWSP 13 - Dubuque
UWSP 8 - Finlandia University 6

Entering the third inning all squared at one against Hope College, the Pointers yielded five runs to the Flying Dutch in the top half of the frame. Watkins quickly narrowed the gap as she led off the Pointers half of the third with a home run. Krueger also added a three-run home run in the inning, capping off a six run frame giving UW-Stevens Point a one run lead.

Point then added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings led by a solo home run by Kelly Arndt (Ashwaubenon, WI/Ashwaubenon) in the fourth.

Cassie Krum (Stratford/Stratford) pitched the last four innings after Michelle Jones (Madison, WI/La Follette) departed and was able to hold on to a 9-8 victory in the season opener for the Pointers.

In their second game of the day, the Pointers jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout by Elyse Nelson (Batavia, IL/Batavia), but Simpson College went on a 19 hit, 17 run outburst the rest of the game, resulting in a 17-3 victory for the Storm in five innings.

Point opened Sunday against Dubuque and jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before Spartans pushed across a run. Watkins highlighted the scoring with a three-run home run.

Dubuque tied the game in the bottom half of the seventh inning, forcing extra innings. In the extra frame, Krueger gave Point the lead on a RBI double and later scored on a wild pitch. Katie Shulfer (Stevens Point, WI/SPASH) added the third run of the inning on a RBI single and the Pointers held on for a 13-11 victory.

Looking to push their record to 3-1 for the weekend, UW-Stevens Point matched up against host Finlandia University in their final game of the weekend.

Alyssa Trautman (Middleton, WI/Middleton) plated the first run of the game as she doubled home a run in the top half of the first to give the Pointers and early 1-0 lead.

After surrendering four runs in the bottom of the second, UW-Stevens Point answered back with four runs of their own with two runs coming on a double by Celina Romenesko (Menasha, WI/Menasha).

The Pointers added single runs in the fourth, fifth and six innings to seal the 8-6 win.

Offensively, Krueger and Watkins highlighted the weekend for the Pointers. Krueger finished with six hits, including a home run, five RBI's and five runs scored. Watkins went deep three times platting six and also scored four runs.

On the mound freshman Sara Babbitts (Green Bay, WI/Ashwaubenon) and Bekah Rennicke (Mequon, WI/Homestead) each picked up wins along with Jones. Battitts also picked up a save against Finlandia.

UW-Stevens Point (3-1) will resume play on March 20th as they travel to Clemont, FL for their spring road trip.