DE PERE, Wis. – The No. 25 UW-Stevens Point softball team (21-3) swept a doubleheader at St. Norbert (5-17) in non-conference action on Tuesday. The Pointers run-ruled the Green Knights in game one, 12-2, and finished the sweep with an 8-5 win in game two.
All nine hitters in the UWSP lineup had multiple hits on the day.
Hailee Thompson (Bonduel, Wis./Bonduel) had five hits,
Jesse Klicker (Spring Grove, Ill/Richmond-Burton Community) and
Sophia Heckendorf (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) each added four. Heckendorf drove in five on the day.
Kaitlyn Roberts (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) had four RBI.
In the circle,
Morgan Harwood (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) was the winning pitcher in both games and
Ashley Zygowski (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) added two saves to her already school record tally.
Game 1 – UWSP 12, SNC 2 (6 inn.)
SNC used a pair of hits in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Sophie Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union) hit a two-out single in the second inning.
Emmie Cibrario (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) followed with an RBI triple and scored on a throwing error on the play as UWSP took a 2-1 lead.
Heckendorf was hit by a pitch to begin the fifth. Thompson and Klicker each singled to load the bases. Baker hit a sac fly and UWSP got just one run in the frame for a 3-1 advantage.
The Green Knights got one run on two hits in the fifth, but Zygowski limited the damage stranding the bases loaded.
The Pointers blew the game open in the sixth. Schmidt, Cibrario and
Trinity Otto (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) loaded the bases with consecutive singles. Heckendorf cleared the bases with a double. Thompson singled and Klicker drew a walk to reload the bases. Baker drove in one with a single. Roberts plated two more with a single.
Sawyer Holberg (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln) drove in two more with a double. After a wild pitch, Schmidt drove in a run on a groundout to cap the nine-run frame.
Harwood struck out six in 4.0 innings. She gave up just three hits. Zygowski notched the save with 2.0 innings and three strikeouts.
Game 2 – UWSP 8, SNC 5
Thompson started game two with a double. Klicker and Baker each drew a walk. Roberts plated two runs with a double and UWSP was up 2-0 early.
SNC responded with three runs on two hits and a pair of UWSP miscues. The Green Knights added two in the second on two hits and UWSP trailed 5-2 after two.
Thompson led off the third with a single. Two batters later, Baker singled. Roberts reached on a fielder's choice as UWSP had runners on the corners.
Ella Smith (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) hit a single and both runners crossed the plate to get UWSP within 5-4.
Cibrario began the fourth with a single. She moved to second on a sac bunt by Otto. Heckendorf tied the game at 5-5 with an RBI double.
Heckendorf hit a one-out single in the sixth. Thompson drew a walk Klicker followed with a single to push Heckendorf home with the go-ahead run.
Smith singled to lead off the seventh. She moved to third on consecutive groundouts. Otto doubled to push home a run. Heckendorf followed with a double as the lead grew to 8-5.
Zygowski struck out the side in the seventh to secure the save. Harwood struck out five in 4.0 scoreless innings in relief.
Kodi Rizzo (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) had three strikeouts in 2.0 frames.
UWSP will host UW-Eau Claire on Saturday (April 12) in the conference and home opener at 1:00 p.m. The Pointers will also honor the team's seniors postgame on Saturday.
