WHITEWATER, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (28-11) earned a 9-4 win over UW-Eau Claire (27-14) in the quarterfinals of the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) on Friday.
Senior
Emmie Cibrario (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) went 4-for-4 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Kaitlyn Roberts (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) and
Sophie Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union) had two hits and two runs scored each. Schmidt also drove in two runs.
The Pointers had five stolen bases in the game setting a new program single season record with 114 steals this season.
Roberts led off the second inning with a single. Two batters later, Cibrario singled to put runners on the corners. With two away,
Trinity Otto (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) got UWSP on the board with an RBI single.
Rachel Baker (Richmond, Ill./Richmond-Burton Community), Cibrario and Schmidt hit consecutive one-out singles in the fourth to load the bases. A wild pitch plated one run. A fielder's choice and a throwing error allowed two more runs to cross the plate as UWSP took a 4-0 lead.
After UWEC got a run in the fourth,
Jesse Klicker (Spring Grove, Ill/Richmond-Burton Community) singled to begin the fifth. Roberts followed with a single and, two batters later, Cibrario singled to drive in a run. Schmidt reached on a fielder's choice as the Pointers scored again for a 6-1 advantage.
The Blugolds got three runs in the sixth to cut UWSP's lead to 6-4.
Baker reached on an error to start the seventh. Cibrario and Schmidt had consecutive singles to drive in one run. With one away,
Sophia Heckendorf (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) singled to plate one run.
Ella Smith (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) followed with a sac fly as UWSP went up, 9-4.
Morgan Harwood (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) went 5.0 innings with six strikeouts and four hits allowed to earn the win.
Ashley Zygowski (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) notched the save with 2.0 hitless and scoreless innings. She struck out three.
The Pointers face UW-Oshkosh in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday (May 10). The winner faces the winner of UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater at 4:00 p.m. in the championship game.