CLERMONT, Fla. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (5-5) hit five home runs on Friday to sweep Ripon and Minnesota-Morris on day two of the PDX Games in Florida. UWSP got one homer in game one for a 3-2 win in eight innings over Ripon. In game two, the Pointers hit three long balls in the first inning and four total in an 11-1 run-rule win over UMM.
Junior
Katie Uhlenbrauck (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) went 3-for-3 on the day including a pivotal two-run home run in game one against Ripon. She scored three runs on the day and drive in two.
Paige Allen (South Elgin, IL/South Elgin) collected four hits over the twin bill, including her second home run in as many days. She scored twice and drove in two.
Averi Kanyuh (Rapid River, WI/Rapid River) hit her first homer of the year, a three-run blast, among her two hits against UMM.
Payton Mix (New London, WI/New London) also had a pair of hits against the Cougars.
Game 1 – UWSP 3, Ripon 2 (8 inn.)
UWSP struck first against the Redhawks. Ashely Cohen began the Pointers' second with a one-out walk. Uhlenbrauck followed with a two-run shot to center putting UWSP in front.
The Pointers maintained the two-run advantage until the bottom of the fourth. An error began the Ripon rally. A one-out single plated the first run and a second single knotted the game at 2-2.
Neither team was able to break the tie during regulation and the game went to the eighth. With two down,
Justine Ertl (Menomonee Falls, WI/Menomonee Falls) pinch hit and drilled a single to left to plate the tie-breaking runner. In the bottom of the frame, UWSP pitcher
Maddie Durie (Appleton, WI/East) stranded the placed runner at third for the victory.
Durie tossed four scoreless frames in relief, giving up just two hits.
Amelia Heup (Milwaukee, WI/Lutheran) started and lasted four frames. She did not allow an earned run and struck out two.
Game 2 – UWSP 11, UMM 1 (5 inn.)
The Pointers bounced back quickly from giving up a run in the top of the first. Three batters in,
Jen Jacobson (Bolingbrook, IL/Bolingbrook) belted a two-run home run to center field. On the next pitch, Allen blasted a solo shot to left pushing the UWSP lead to 3-1. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases for
Paige Kitzing (Mount Pleasant, WI/J.I. Case). Kitzing launched a grand slam to left-center for a 7-1 lead.
UWSP added on in the second inning.
Kirsten Perkinson (Dunlap, IL/Dunlap) singled to start the rally. Two batters later, Allen doubled to plate the first run of the frame. After a Uhlenbrauck single, Kanyuh slammed a three-run shot to left center to extend the lead to 11-1.
Freshman hurler Cohen tossed a complete game in the win. She scattered four hits and struck out three.
The Pointers return to action on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET against Elmhurst and play St. Thomas at 2:00 p.m. ET.
