WHITEWATER, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point baseball team (26-15) won its WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) opener behind an 11-strikeout complete-game shutout by Nick Paulsen (Balsam Lake, Wis./Unity) over No. 16 UW-La Crosse (29-12) by a 3-0 final on Thursday.
 
Paulsen tied his career high with 11 strikeouts, his third start of the season with double-digit strikeouts. It was his first career nine-inning shutout in a UWSP uniform. He scattered six hits and allowed just one runner past second base in the game.
 
Anthony Tomczak (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) had two hits and drove in two on a home run. Connor Olson (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) also had two hits.
 
Tomczak singled in the first and Olson doubled in the second, but the game remained scoreless until the fourth.
 
Bradley Comer (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) led off the fourth with a single. He moved all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Trent Van Ess (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) followed with a single to put UWSP up, 1-0.
 
In the fifth, Jakob Boos (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) reached on an infield single with two outs. Tomczak followed with a two-run home run to left for a 3-0 lead.
 
Paulsen took care of the rest retiring the side in order four times, including the fourth, seventh and ninth innings after UWSP had the lead.
 
The Pointers move on to face host UW-Whitewater on Friday (May 10). First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.