MARQUETTE, Mich. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (3-1) fell in eight innings, 6-5, to Concordia (Wis.) (4-0) before ending opening weekend with a 10-0 run-rule win over Northland (0-4).
Freshman
Sara Traxel (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) had a pair of hits in each game. She scored a run in each game and had an RBI is each.
Senior
Ashley Cohen (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard South) added four hits on the day with two RBI and two runs scored.
Sammy Buerger (Oshkosh, Wis./North) contributed three hits with three runs scored and an RBI.
Lauren Luedtke (Lomira, Wis./Lomira) also added three hits, extending her active hitting streak to 15 games dating back to last season.
Freshmen
Lauren Lindahl (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) and
Barbara Covek (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) combined for a one-hitter in the win over NC.
Game 1 – UWSP 5, CUW 6 (8 inn.)
Madi Greenaberg (Downers Grove, Ill./North) doubled with two outs in the second inning. Traxel followed with a single scoring pinch runner
Mackenzie Niespodzany (Pulaski, Wis./Pulaski) for a 1-0 UWSP lead.
The Falcons used two hits and a UWSP miscue to edge ahead, 2-1, in the third.
In the top of the fourth, Cohen led off with a double. Luedtke followed with a single, advancing on the throw to put two in scoring position.
Maddix Bonnell (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) hit a sac fly to center to tie the game at 2-2.
CUW pulled ahead again in the fifth with a bases-clearing triple to go up 5-2. The Pointers got two aboard in the sixth, but were unable to push across a run.
In the seventh, Traxel hit a leadoff single. Two batters later, freshman
Megan Lawrence (Antioch, Ill./Antioch Community) singled. Buerger followed with a double to plate the first run.
Maddie Candre (St. Charles, Ill./East) drove in a run on a groundout. Cohen continued the inning with a double to tie the game at 5-5.
The Falcons pushed home the winning run in the bottom of the eight to hand UWSP its first loss of the year.
Cohen pitch 5.0 frames and struck out four in the circle.
Game 2 – UWSP 10, Northland 0 (5 inn.)
Buerger led off the bottom of the first with a triple. Candre walked and stole second. Bureger stole home to give UWSP a 1-0 lead. Luedtke and Greenaberg each drew walks and the Pointers took a 4-0 lead on an RBI single by Bonnell.
In the second, Buerger began the frame with a double. Two batters later, Cohen singled her home for a 5-0 advantage.
Greenaberg drew a leadoff walk in the third. Traxel doubled to put two in scoring position. Niespodzany drew a walk to load the bases. Two batters later, Lawrence drew a walk to push home a run. A fielder's choice and a passed ball scored to more as UWSP went up 8-0.
Clarissa Messina (Rosemont, Ill./East Leyden) tripled to start the fourth, her first hit as a Pointer. Luedtke followed with an RBI double. With one away, Traxel doubled to cap the scoring as the Pointers took a 10-0 lead.
Lindahl and Covek retired 15-straight to end the game. NC's lone hit came to lead off the game.
The Pointers head to Minnesota for a doubleheader against Hamline on Feb. 29. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
