LA CROSSE, Wis. – Sophomore Kyle Mrozinski (Ashwaubenon, Wis./Ashwaubenon) hit a two-out, two-run single through the left side in the eighth inning to push the UW-Stevens Point baseball team (16-14, 8-6) past UW-La Crosse (18-14, 6-8) by a 4-3 score to earn a split in the weekend opener.  The Pointers couldn't dig out of an early hole in game one and lost, 6-4.
 
The clutch single was Mrozinski's lone hit of the day.  He drew a walk in game one.
 
Fellow sophomore Ryan Stanicek (Loves Park, Ill./Boylan Catholic) had five hits on the day.  He went 4-for-4 in game one with two RBI and a run scored.  He scored the winning run in game two as well.
 
Game 1 – UWSP 4, UWL 6
UWL scored single tallies in each of the first four innings to put the Pointers in a 4-0 hole. 
 
The Pointers chipped away in the fifth.  John Popham (Waupaca, Wis./Waupaca ) led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball.  Jordan Carlson (Madison, Wis./Madison La Follette) walked and both runner stole to put two in scoring position.  Tommy Duddleston (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle Institute) got UWSP on the board with a sacrifice fly.  An Eagles' error allowed a second run to score in the frame.
 
UW-La Crosse got those two runs back in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run, the Eagles' second long ball of the game.
 
In the sixth, Stanicek hit one out with two down in the frame to make it a 6-3 game.
 
Clint Rose (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) drew a base on balls to begin the eighth.  Mrozinski also walked and two batters later, Stanicek singled to pull UWSP within two, but the Pointers would get no closer.
 
Relief pitcher Drew Spaeth (Stratford, Wis./Stratford) threw the final three innings for UWSP.  He allowed one hit and struck out one.
 
Game 2 – UWSP 4, UWL 3
Ben Gerber (Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton) singled to begin game two.  He moved to third on a William Iloncaie (East Troy, Wis./East Troy) single and both runners moved up on a balk to give UWSP a 1-0 edge.
A two-out single in the bottom of the inning sparked a two-run rally for the home team.  In the second inning, another two-out rally gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead.
 
In the fifth inning, the Pointers got their own two-out rally going.  Tyler Thomka (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) singled to left and then stole second. Gerber drove him home with a two-out single as UWSP closed to within one.
 
Iloncaie reached base on a UWL error with two away in the eighth.  Stanicek singled and both runners moved into scoring position on the play.  Mrozinski stepped in and ripped a go-ahead single through the left side.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, reliever Nathan Mulzer (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) entered with two on.  An infield single loaded the bases, but back-to-back strikeouts by Mulzer buttoned down the win.
 
The Pointers and Eagles square off again on Saturday in La Crosse.  The twin bill is set to begin at 2:30 at Copeland Park.