ST. PAUL, Minn. – The UW-Stevens point softball team (4-2) scored three times in the seventh inning and won the opener in extra innings for a split at Bethel on Tuesday (March 6). The Pointers trailed by a 3-0 score entering the seventh and rallied for a 6-4 win in eight innings in the opener. In game two, the Pointers trailed early and couldn't complete the comeback in an 8-4 loss.
Senior
Paige Allen (South Elgin, Ill./South Elgin) had three hits in game two with a runs scored and two RBI. Freshman
Rachael Wakefield (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) also had a trio of hits on the day. Two in the game one win with a pair of RBI. She had another hit in game two and scored a run in each game.
Alyssa Cooper (Little Suamico, Wis./Bay Port) and
Averi Kanyuh (Rapid River, Wis./Rapid River) each hit safely in both games of the doubleheader. Cooper had a RBI in the win and scored a run in game two. Kanyuh scored in the pivotal eighth inning in game one.
Game 1 – UWSP 6, Bethel 4 (8)
Consecutive two-out singles by Cooper,
Morgan Johnson (Combined Locks, Wis./Kaukauna) and
Anna Palicka (Lisle, Ill./Lisle) loaded the bases in the top of the first, but UWSP couldn't push home a run in the frame.
In the fourth inning, a pair of UWSP miscues led to the Royals scoring a couple unearned runs for a 2-0 lead. Bethel added to its lead in the fifth, but
Amelia Heup (Brookfield, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran) got out of the jam with just a single run allowed, stranding the bases loaded.
Sydney Opdahl (Greenfield, Wis./Whitnall) singled to begin the Pointers' seventh inning. After stealing second, Wakefield reached on an infield single to put two aboard.
Lauren Luedtke (Lomira, Wis./Lomira) drew a walk with two outs to load the bases. Johnson singled on the infield to push home two runs and tie the game.
In the eighth, Johnson was placed on second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.
Payton Mix (New London, Wis./New London) singled to score the first run of the inning. With two outs, Kanyuh singled and Wakefield followed with a two-run double.
Bethel got a run back in the bottom of the eighth, but Palicka ended the threat and the game with her 11th strikeout of the game.
Game 2 – UWSP 4, Bethel 8 (6)
Bethel jumped on top with three runs in the top of the first courtesy of three walks to begin the game.
In the bottom of the frame, Cooper singled with two away. Johnson reached on an error and advanced all the way to third on the second throwing error of the play. On the next pitch, Johnson stole home to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Royals added two runs in the second, both unearned to extend the lead back to three. Another unearned run crossed the plate in the third for Bethel.
Allen led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run, the first by a Pointer his season. In the fifth, Allen doubled to drive in another run, but single tallies by the Royals in the fourth and sixth completed the scoring. The game was called after six innings due to time constraints with the field use.
The Pointers head to Illinois this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders at the Greenville University Softball Tournament. UWSP will face Buena Vista on Saturday (March 10) beginning at 2:00 p.m. The Pointers play Luther on Sunday (March 11) in a twin bill at 10:00 a.m.
