WHITEWATER, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (25-12) suffered a 1-0 loss to UW-Platteville (25-14) in the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) opening round game on Thursday morning.
 
Sophia Heckendorf (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) and Allie Meyers (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) had two hits each to lead the UWSP offense. Maddie Candre (St. Charles, Ill./East) had another hit, her fourth-straight game and the 29th game in the last 33 she has hit safely.
 
Candre and Heckendorf singled consecutively to begin the game. The pair moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but were stranded there.
 
Meyers had a two out single in the second and was stranded. The Pioneers got the hit that ultimately mattered in the end with a solo home run in the second inning.
 
Candre walked to begin the sixth, the first base runner since the second inning for UWSP. Jesse Klicker (Spring Grove, Ill/Richmond-Burton Community) drew a two-out walk, but both remained on base.
 
In the seventh, pinch hitter Lillie Lindgren (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) singled to start the frame. Meyers singled with one out and both runners remained on base as the game ended.
 
Makenna Tkach (Streator, Ill./Marquette Academy) went 3.0 innings in the start. She gave up three hits. Ashley Zygowski (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) tossed the final 3.0 frames with two strikeouts.
 
The Pointers will face UW-Eau Claire in an elimination game at 9:00 a.m. on Friday (May 12).