OSHKOSH, Wis. – Pitchers Morgan Harwood (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) and Ashley Zygowski (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) tossed a three-hit shutout as the UW-Stevens Point softball team (29-12) defeated Central (26-12) by a 3-0 final in the NCAA Tournament Regional opener for both teams.
 
Harwood took a no-hitter through 4.1 inning and she struck out three. She set a school record by making her 25th start of the season. She also tied Zygowski for most appearances in a season as it was Harwood's 37th.
 
Zygowski tossed the final 2.2 innings to become the first player in the country to reach 10 saves this season. She struck out four.
 
Offensively, Kaitlyn Roberts (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville), Ella Smith (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) and Sophia Heckendorf (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) had two hits each. Roberts drove in two runs and Heckendorf scored one.
 
Roberts began the game with a single to right. She was replaced at first on a fielder's choice, but the Pointers couldn't break on top.
 
Sophie Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union) and Trinity Otto (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) drew consecutive two-out walks in the second. Heckendorf singled to load the bases. Again, UWSP was held scoreless.
 
Hailee Thompson (Bonduel, Wis./Bonduel), Rachel Baker (Richmond, Ill./Richmond-Burton Community) and Smith worked three-straight walks with one away in the third. Central again wiggled out of trouble without UWSP scoring.
 
Schmidt ripped a single to begin the fourth. Otto moved her to second on a sac bunt. Heckendorf doubled to put two in scoring position. Roberts lined a double into the left filed corner to give UWSP a 2-0 lead. Jesse Klicker (Spring Grove, Ill/Richmond-Burton Community) drew a walk to put two aboard. With two down, Baker hit a double to push the UWSP advantage to 3-0.
 
Thompson hit a double to start the seventh. Baker walked and Smith singled to load the bases. UWSP's attempt to extend the lead with thwarted.
 
But the three runs were all that Harwood and Zygowski needed. Harwood stranded a walk at third in the third. She stranded another at second in the fourth. Zygowski left two runners aboard with a pair of strikeouts in the fifth.
 
Central broke up the no-hit bid with one out in the sixth with a bloop infield single over the pitcher's head. Heckendorf cutdown the runner at the plate to end the sixth and keep the shutout intact. The Dutch got two on the seventh, but Zygowski closed the door for the win.
 
The Pointers will face host UW-Oshkosh at 11:00 a.m. on Friday (May 16). The winner advances to Saturday's championship game.