DE PERE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point baseball team (13-8) pounded out a season-high 21 hits in an 18-7 win at St. Norbert (6-18) in non-conference play. All nine hitters in the starting lineup had at least one hit.
Payton Nelson (Wausau, Wis./West) and
Bradley Comer (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) led the way with four hits and a home run each. Nelson totaled six RBI, a career-high. Both scored four runs in the game.
Logan Homolka (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) added three hits with two runs scored.
Logan Matson (Neillsville, Wis./Neillsville) had two hits and scored twice.
Brenden Canterbury (Waupaca, Wis./Waupaca) scored three times.
The Green Knights got on the board first with two runs in the second inning on two hits and two walks.
Nelson, Comer and
Anthony Tomczak (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) singled in succession with two outs in the third as UWSP got one run back.
Canterbury doubled to begin the fourth. Two batters later, Matson hit a double to tie the game at 2-2.
SNC regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a walk, wild pitch and a single. Comer got the run right back with a solo home run to open the fifth. The Green Knights again took the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth on consecutive hits.
In the sixth, Homolka hit a single to lead off. Matson was hit by a pitch and
Jakob Boos (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) walked to load the bases. Nelson singled to drive in one. Two batters later, Tomzcak doubled to drive in two for a 6-4 lead.
But the Pointers couldn't shake the Green Knights. SNC bounced back with four straight one-out hits to put up three runs and take a 7-6 lead.
UWSP finally pulled ahead for good in the seventh as 12 batters came to the plate in the inning.
Trent Van Ess (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) was hit by a pitch. Then with two outs, Homolka singled. Matson walked to load the bases. Boos also walked to push in a run. Nelson then belted a grand slam for an 11-7 lead. Comer walked, Tomczak was hit by a pitch and
Kamden Oliver (Viroqua, Wis./Viroqua) drew a walk to reload the bases. An SNC error allowed another run to score as UWSP led 12-7.
The Pointers scored three unearned runs in the eighth to up the advantage to 15-7. In the ninth, UWSP added three more runs as Nelson and Comer each drove in a run.
Jacob Meinholz (Middleton, Wis./Middleton) got the start and went 3.0 with two strikeouts.
Nathan Krommenakker (Rudolph, Wis./Lincoln) fanned two in an inning of relief.
Nick Carpenter (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills) also struck out two and tossed 1.2 scoreless frames to earn the win.
The Pointers return to league play and entertain UW-Whitewater in the home opener with the four-game series beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday (April 15).
