MENOMONIE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (25-11, 7-7) swept a doubleheader at UW-Stout (11-26, 3-11) to secure the fifth-seed in the WIAC Tournament. UWSP rolled to a 14-0 run-rule win in six innings in game one. Game two wasn't decided until the 10th inning as UWSP prevailed, 6-2.
Makenna Tkach (Streator, Ill./Marquette Academy) recorded the win in both games, tossing 10 scoreless innings on the day.
As a team, the Pointers swiped seven bases on the day, setting the program single season record for the second time in the last three seasons.
Allie Meyers (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) had three hits with two runs scored and four RBI in game one.
Jesse Klicker (Spring Grove, Ill/Richmond-Burton Community) had three hits on the day with four runs scored and three RBI over the two games.
Sara Traxel (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) had three hits and four RBI on the day.
Maddie Candre (St. Charles, Ill./East) had three hits and drew four walks. Candre and Traxel both scored a run in each game.
Game 1 – UWSP 14, Stout 0 (6 inn.)
UWSP had a runner on in the first and the second, but it was Meyers' leadoff single in the third that sparked a run-scoring rally. Candre singled for the second time in the game and sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position. Traxel drove in a with a bunt. Klicker doubled to drive in two more.
Trinity Otto (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) hit an RBI groundout to give UWSP a 4-0 advantage.
Meyers was hit by a pitch to begin the fourth. Candre drew a walk and consecutive groundouts advanced Meyers home as UWSP went ahead, 5-0.
Hannah Roepke (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) and
Rachel Baker (Richmond, Ill./Richmond-Burton Community) drew consecutive one-out walks in the fifth.
Lillie Lindgren (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) singled, but the lead runner was cut down at the plate. Meyers followed with a single to drive in two for a 7-0 lead.
UWSP blew it open in the sixth. Klicker singled with one away. Otto walked and Roepke singled to load the bases. Baker,
Emmie Cibrario (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) and Meyers hit consecutive singled to drive in four combined. A wild pitch plated another. After a Candre walk, a fielder's choice allowed another run to score. Traxel singled to push home another and it was 14-0.
Tkach allowed just two hits over 5.0 in the start to earn the win.
Addison Wythe (Stillman Valley, Ill./Stillman Valley) pitched a perfect sixth.
Game 2 – UWSP 6, Stout 2 (10 inn.)
The Blue Devils turned two walks and two singles in their first run of the day in the bottom of the first.
Klicker singled to start the second for UWSP. She moved to second on an error and to third on a fly out. Roepke hit a sac fly as UWSP pulled even at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the fifth. Stout got a leadoff double. With two away. A single gave the home team a 2-1 lead.
Sophia Heckendorf (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) drew a walk to begin the sixth. Traxel singled and both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Lindgren hit an RBI groundout and UWSP again tied the game at 2-2.
Candre doubled with one out in the 10th as the Pointers looked to break the tie. Heckendorf singled to put runners on the corners. Traxel reached on an error as one run scored. Klicker reached on a bunt as another crossed the plate. Otto hit an RBI groundout and a wild pitch gave UWSP a four-run inning.
Stout got two on in the bottom of the 10th, but Tkach stranded them there to secure the win.
Ashley Zygowski (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) started and went 5.0. Tkach and Zygowski had two strikeouts apiece in the game.
The Pointers will be the five-seed in the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) beginning on Thursday (May 11) at UW-Whitewater. UWSP will play UW-Platteville in game one of the tournament beginning at 9:00 a.m.
