STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (16-14, 1-6) belted three home runs to win game one of its home opener against UW-Platteville (12-14, 4-4). The Pointers took game one, 11-4, before falling in game two, 7-4, for a split.
 
Abby Van Beek (Mayville, Wis./Mayville) had two hits in each game, including a tie-breaking two-run home run in game one. She had four RBI and three runs scored on the day.
 
Meg Lawrence (Antioch, Ill./Antioch Community) and Sara Traxel (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) also had four hits on the day. Lawrence drove in two runs and scored once in the win. Traxel scored five runs on the day and drove in one.
 
Maddie Candre (St. Charles, Ill./East), Jesse Klicker (Spring Grove, Ill/Richmond-Burton Community), Becca Geiyer (Grayslake, Ill./Warren Township) and Makenna Tkach (Streator, Ill./Marquette Academy) all hit safely in both games. Geiyer had three RBI and Tkach had two.
 
Game 1 – UWSP 11, UWP 7
Klicker drew a leadoff walk in the first and stole second. Traxel doubled to push home the first run. Two batters later, Lawrence hit an RBI single. She stole second and scored on a Geiyer single as UWSP went up 3-0 after one.
 
The Pioneers got all three runs back in the third, all unearned runs. In the bottom of the third, Van Beek singled with two away. Lawrence blasted a ball to center that hit the top of the fence and fell on the warning track for a run-scoring triple.
 
UWP tied the game in the fourth and took the lead with a run in the fifth.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, UWSP's offense exploded. Candre singled to start the frame. She scored after a Traxel double and an errant throw. Then Van Beek broke the tie with a two-run home run to left-center. Geiyer drew a one-out walk and Tkach followed with a two-run home run to center as UWSP went up, 9-5.
 
Klicker ripped a leadoff home run to center in the sixth. Traxel doubled and advanced to third on an error. Geiyer plated her with a sac fly and an 11-5 lead.
 
The Pioneers got two runs in the seventh, but no more as UWSP held on for its first league win. Van Beek and Tkach each had three strikeouts in the circle
 
Game 2 – UWSP 4, UWP 7
The Pioneers broke a scoreless tie with a bases-clearing double in the third inning.
 
In the fourth, Traxel led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Van Beek singled to push her home. Singles by Lawrence and Tkach plated another run as UWSP got within 3-2.
 
UWP put up four runs in the sixth on three hits and a trio of walks in the inning.
 
Klicker drew a one-out walk in the seventh. An error with two outs, opened the door for a UWSP rally. Van Beek singled to score one. After a Lawrence walk loaded the bases, Geiyer singled to push home another run. But UWSP's rally was halted there as the Pioneers held on for the split.
 
Van Beek and Tkach had two strikeouts apiece in game two.
 
The Pointers travel to No. 19 UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday (April 27) for a 2:00 p.m. twin bill.