WINONA, Minn. – The UW-Stevens Point softball team (30-15) saw its postseason run end with a 1-0 defeat to Bethany Lutheran (33-10) in the NCAA Tournament Regional on Friday.
UWSP's pitching once again shined.
Kodi Rizzo (Newark, Ill./Newark Community) fanned five in 3.2 innings.
Ashley Zygowski (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam and struck out four over 3.0 innings.
Kaitlyn Roberts (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) and
Ella Smith (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) had UWSP's lone hits, both singles.
Roberts had a two0out single in the bottom of the first. She stole second, her career-best 20th of the season, but remained there as the frame ended.
BLC turned a leadoff walk in the third into the only run of the game. Two singles plated the run for the Vikings.
Zygowski entered the circle in the fifth with no outs and the bases loaded. She coaxed an infield fly, struck out the next batter and got out of the jam with a fly out.
Morgan Harwood (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) was hit by a pitch in the sixth. Again, UWSP couldn't push the run home.
In the seventh, Smith singled up the middle with two away. She was cut down attempting to steal second to end the game.
Zygowski closes out a stellar career with the most saves in Division III history with 33. She also finished second in school history with 417 strikeouts in her career. Fellow senior
Trinity Otto (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) led the Pointers with 36 RBI and seven home runs this season.
