MADISON, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (8-4) rallied in both games, but came up short as the University of Chicago (2-1) took both games on Saturday.  UWSP forced extra innings in game one, but fell, 6-5, in nine innings.  In game two, the Pointers dropped a 12-2 decision.
 
Megan Lawrence (Antioch, Ill./Antioch Community) collected four hits on the day and drove in a team-high three runs on the day.  Lauren Luedtke (Lomira, Wis./Lomira) also had four hits on the day.  She scored two runs and had a pair of stolen bases.
 
Sara Traxel (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) had three hits and drove in both runs in game two.  Becca Geiyer (Grayslake, Ill./Warren Township) had UWSP's other two RBI.
 
Game 1 – UWSP 5, UC 6 (9)
The Maroons turned two hits and a walk into a run in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
 
Sammy Buerger (Oshkosh, Wis./North) drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first.  Maddie Candre (St. Charles, Ill./East) followed with a base on balls.  Luedtke reached on an infield single to load the bases.  With two away, Geiyer singled down the right field line to push home two runs.
 
UC tied the game in the second with a run on a walk and a hit.  The Maroon took the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth on four hits.
 
Traxel singled to begin UWSP's half of the fifth.  Buerger drew another walk.  With two outs, Lawrence singled to push home two runs to get UWSP within one.
 
Buerger started the seventh with a triple to right field.  An error by Chicago extended the inning, but UWSP still hadn't push the tying run in.  Lawrence flied to right for a sac fly to tie the game.
 
The Maroons plated a run on two hits in the ninth to take the lead.  In the bottom of the ninth, the Pointers got two on, but were unable to extend the game.
 
Makenna Tkach (Streator, Ill./Marquette Academy) pitched 6.0 innings with five strikeouts.  MacKenzie Honish (Oconto, Wis./Oconto) tossed 3.0 innings in relief with one strikeout.
 
Game 2 – UWSP 2, UC 12
Chicago scored three times in the first on three walks and a UWSP miscue followed by a bases-clearing double.  The Maroons added a run in the third and five more in the fifth for a 9-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Lawrence singled with one down.  Buerger drew a walk and a groundout pushed two into scoring position.  Traxel dropped a single into left-center to plate two runs as UWSP extended the game.
 
The Maroons tacked on three runs in the seventh to complete the scoring. 
 
Honish struck out one in 1.2 innings of relief.  Tkach pitched 2.0 innings with two strikeouts.  Allie Meyers (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) tossed the final 3.0 frames with three strikeouts.
 
The Pointers return to the diamond on Monday (March 22) with a single game at Wisconsin Lutheran.  First pitch is slated for 4:15 p.m.