STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens point softball team (8-18, 1-7) saw its skid hit six-straight with a pair of losses in the home opener to league frontrunner UW-Whitewater (22-6, 8-0) on Friday. The Pointers' bats were silent in a 7-0 game one loss. In game two, UWSP played catch-up all game eventually falling, 11-6.
Sophomore
Morgan Johnson (Combined Locks, WI/Kaukauna) recorded hits in each game, including a career-best 5-for-5 in game two. She drove in two and scored a run.
Fellow sophomore
Paige Kitzing (Mount Pleasant, WI/J.I. Case) was a perfect 2-for-2 with a pair of walks in game two. She scored twice.
Game 1 – UWSP 0, UWW 7
The visiting Warhawks put up five runs in the top of the second. UWW got five hits, including a home run, and drew a walk in the rally.
UWSP got a leadoff walk from
Katie Uhlenbrauck (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) in the bottom of the second. In the third inning, Johnson got the Pointers' first hit of the game, but the Pointers couldn't put together a sustained rally in either frame.
After the Warhawks added a run in the fifth,
Ashley Cohen (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South) singled to lead off the bottom of the inning. Kitzing was hit by a pitch, but three-straight outs quashed the threat.
UW-Whitewater added a run in the sixth to complete the scoring.
Game 2 – UWSP 6, UWW 11
The Pointers fell behind early in game two. The Warhawks scored three early runs capped by a two-run home run.
Johnson began her big game with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first. A sacrifice bunt was put down by
Alyssa Cooper (Little Suamico, WI/Bay Port) and she reached on an error to put two aboard. Again, UWW was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run.
The Pointers got another hit from Johnson to begin the third. A successful sac bunt by Cooper moved her into scoring position. Two batters later,
Jen Jacobson (Bolingbrook, IL/Bolingbrook) singled to push home UWSP's first run.
The teams traded runs in the fourth. The Warhawks scored twice on three hits in the top of the inning. Kitzing drew a 15-pitch walk with two down in the bottom half to start the rally.
Averi Kanyuh (Rapid River, WI/Rapid River) doubled to center sending Kitzing home. Then Johnson's third hit of the game plated Kanyuh to pull UWSP within 5-3.
UWW scored four times in the fifth and four more times in the sixth to extend its lead to 11-3.
Cohen walked to begin the bottom of the sixth as the Pointers continued to battle. Kitzing singled and Johnson drove in a run with another base hit. After Cooper was hit by a pitch, a fielder's choice plated another run.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Cori Semler (Hartford, WI/Hartford Union) reached on an error to start the frame.
Payton Mix (New London, WI/New London) singled and Kitzing walked to load the bases. Johnson's fifth hit of the game scored a run, but the rally ended thereafter.
UWSP will return to action on Saturday, April 22 with a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader at home against UW-Eau Claire.
