MARQUETTE, Mich. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (2-0) began the Ryan Konitzer era with a pair of wins on opening day in the Finlandia Dome Classic.  The Pointers downed Lakeland in the opening game, 4-1, and finished the day with an 8-1 win over Marian.
 
In the win over the Muskies in the opener, freshman Anna Palicka (Lisle, Ill./Lisle) struck out nine and tossed 6.2 innings of two-hit ball to pick up her first collegiate victory.  Sophomore Ashley Cohen (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South) notched the final out for the save.
 
Cohen pitched game two against the Sabres and went the distance with a two-hitter of her own.  She struck out 10 in the complete game win.
 
Junior Alyssa Cooper (Little Suamico, Wis./Bay Port) had four hits on the day.  She had a double and a RBI against Lakeland in game one.  In game two, she went 3-for-4 with another RBI.
 
Game 1 - UWSP 4, Lakeland 1
Freshman Tatum Tackmier (Ashwaubenon, WIs./Ashwaubenon) singled and stole second with two down in the third inning.  She moved to third on an LU error.  Averi Kanyuh (Rapid River, Wis./Rapid River) followed with an RBI single to put UWSP ahead 1-0.
 
The Muskies turned a leadoff double in the sixth inning into a game-tying run.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Kanyuh reach on an error to lead off the frame.  She moved to third on consecutive groundouts.  Senior Paige Allen (South Elgin, Ill./South Elgin) doubled to drive in the first run of the inning.  Payton Mix (New London, Wis./New London) singled to push Allen home.  Lauren Luedtke (Lomira, Wis./Lomira) capped the rally with a run-scoring double to put UWSP up 4-1. 
 
Palicka recorded the first two outs of the seventh.  Then after a two-out single, Cohen took over an induced a game-ending flyout to lock down the win.
 
Game 2 - UWSP 8, Marian 1
The Sabres broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth with an unearned run following a leadoff single.
 
In the fifth inning, Mix began the frame with a single.  Luedtke replaced her at first on a fielder's choice and moved to third on an error and a stolen base.  Natalie Yahn (Wauwautosa, Wis./East) drew a walk to load the bases and Allen tied the game with a RBI single.  Then with two outs, Morgan Johnson (Combined Locks, Wis./Kaukauna) doubled to drive in two.  Palicka singled to push home two more and Cooper capped the six-run inning with a run-scoring double.
 
The Pointers tacked on an unearned run in the sixth and Cooper had another RBI double in the seventh to complete the scoring.
 
UWSP closes out the opening weekend with a pair of games on Sunday morning.  The Pointers face Edgewood at 8:00 a.m. (ET) and CUW at 10:00 a.m. (ET).