MADISON, Wis. – After picking up a non-conference sweep on Saturday, the UW-Stevens Point softball team (15-9, 0-2) dropped both games of its conference opener to UW-La Crosse (15-8, 3-1). The Pointers came up short, 6-5, in game one before falling 11-6 in game two.
 
UWSP's offense was held to just 11 hits on the day. Emmie Cibrario (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) and Becca Geiyer (Grayslake, Ill./Warren Township) hit safely in both games. Cibrario drove in a run and scored twice. Geiyer had one RBI and a run scored.
 
Jesse Klicker (Spring Grove, Ill/Richmond-Burton Community) and Abby Van Beek (Mayville, Wis./Mayville) had two hits each in the second game. Klicker scored two runs.
 
Game 1 – UWSP 5, UWL 6
After the Eagles took the lead in the top of the first, Maddie Candre (St. Charles, Ill./East) hit a one-out single in the bottom of the frame. Meg Lawrence (Antioch, Ill./Antioch Community) followed with an RBI double to tie the game.
 
UWL retook the lead in the third with two runs on four hits. UWSP stepped back in front in the fourth. Geiyer led off with a single and back-to-back fielder's choices loaded the bases. Rachel Baker (Richmond, Ill./Richmond-Burton Community) plated two with a double. Makenna Tkach (Streator, Ill./Marquette Academy) and Cibrario also drove in a run as UWSP led 5-3.
 
The Eagles took the lead for good in the sixth with three runs on four hits.
 
Game 2 – UWSP 6, UWL 11
UWL put up a four-spot in the first on five hits and a pair of UWSP miscues. In the third, the Eagles plated six runs on four hits and another UWSP error.
 
The Pointers responded in the bottom of the third. Cibrario singled with one down. A UWL error opened the door as Candre drove in UWSP's first run on a fielder's choice. Geiyer hit an RBI single in the inning and UWSP got two more runs on UWL's second error of the inning.
 
After UWL tacked on a run in the fifth, UWSP got two runs in the bottom of the frame on another Eagles' error.
 
The Pointers got a hit in the sixth and again in the seventh, but couldn't chip away at the deficit any further.
 
The Pointers will host UW-Stout in the home opener on Friday (April 15) with a doubleheader set to begin at 1:00 p.m.