WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – The No. 25 UW-Stevens Point softball team (22-4, 1-1) opened conference play with a split against UW-Eau Claire (19-7) on Saturday. UWSP came up just short in game one, 7-6, before Morgan Harwood (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) tossed a three-hit shutout in a 4-0 game two win.
 
Harwood was knocked out of game one three batters in after taking a line drive to her leg. She returned strong in game two, pitching a three-hit complete game shutout.
 
Kaitlin Roberts had two hits, including a three-RBI double, in game one. Jesse Klicker (Spring Grove, Ill/Richmond-Burton Community) and Trinity Otto (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) both had two hits in game two and each drove in a run. Klicker totalled three hits on the day and scored a run in each game.
 
Game 1 – UWSP 6, UWEC 7
UWEC turned a walk and two infield hits into a run in the first inning.
 
Roberts started the second inning with a single. Ella Smith (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) doubled to put two in scoring position. A wild pitch allowed UWSP to tie the game. Two batters later, Emmie Cibrario (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) reached on a sac bunt to drive in the go-ahead run. Otto followed with a walk and a fielder's choice put runners on the corners. Cibrario then stole home to give UWSP a 3-1 lead.
 
The Blugolds tied the game with two runs on two hits in the third. UWEC took the lead with a run in the sixth. The Blugolds tacked on three more in the seventh for a 7-3 lead.
 
Otto Walked to start the bottom of the seventh. She was replaced a first by Sophia Heckendorf (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) on a fielder's choice. With two down, Klicker singled. Rachel Baker (Richmond, Ill./Richmond-Burton Community) drew a walk to load the bases. Roberts cleared the bases with a double to get UWSP within 7-6. She moved to third on a wild pitch, but was stranded there to end the game.
 
Ashley Zygowski (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) went 6.1 innings after Harwood left in the first. Zygowski struck out four. Kodi Rizzo (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) pitched the final 0.2 innings.
 
Game 2 – UWSP 4, UWEC 0
Hailee Thompson (Bonduel, Wis./Bonduel) ripped a double to begin the fourth inning. Klicker followed with a double to give UWSP a 1-0 lead. Baker and Roberts reached on consecutive fielder's choices to give the Pointers runners on the corners. Smith singled to plate a run for a 2-0 lead.
 
Baker was hit by a pitch to begin the sixth. With two down, Sawyer Holberg (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln) reached on a throwing error to extend the inning. Cibrario reached on an infield single and drove in a run. Otto singled to drive in another for a 4-0 advantage.
 
Harwood was dominant in the complete game shutout. She struck out five and allowed just three hits to earn her 11th win of the season.
 
The Pointers head to UW-Platteville on Wednesday (April 16) for a 2:00 p.m. conference doubleheader.