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Nationally-Ranked Programs Battle Until Darkness
Two nationally-ranked inter-divisional softball
programs battled tough for two games as UW-Stevens Point earned a second
game tie against Division II Winona State Thursday at McCarty Field in
Stevens Point.
The Pointers and Warriors were even into the
fourth inning of the opening game before Winona State pulled away for an
8-3 win, while the Warriors needed a sixth inning rally to force a 3-3 tie
in the second game that was called due to darkness. UW-Stevens Point is
ranked 17th in the NCAA Division III, while Winona State is ranked 20th in
the latest Division II rankings.
It marked only the second time UW-Stevens Point
has ever played a home softball game during the month of March with the
other coming on March 29, 1995 against UW-La Crosse. It was also the first
time Winona State has ever played a doubleheader in Stevens Point.
UW-Stevens Point outhit Winona State 8-6 in the
opening game despite the five-run setback. In fact, Pointers� freshman
Ashley Tobalsky had a no-hitter until one out in the fifth inning, but
trailed 2-1 when the Warriors erupted for three runs in each of the fifth
and sixth innings. Winona State took advantage of eight walks in the game.
Winona State�s Jamie Kettwig hit a two-run
double in the fifth and then Division II All-American Sarah Carlson hit a
towering three-run homer to centerfield in the sixth inning. UW-Stevens
Point�s Chelsea McIlquham added a run-scoring single in the bottom of the
seventh and finished two-for-three as seven different players accounted
for the Pointers� eight hits.
UW-Stevens Point freshman Allison Dorn scattered
eight hits in the second game, but benefited from a pair of double plays
in limiting the Warriors to three runs. After the Pointers got a second
inning run when Rebekah Bauer scored on a wild pitch, Winona State took a
2-1 lead in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Abby Kacena and RBI
groundout by Kristin Noble.
The Pointers rallied in the bottom of the fourth
with four straight hits, including a two-run double from Laura Zierler for
a 3-2 lead.
Winona State tied the game in the top of the
sixth as Kettwig delivered a one-out, run-scoring single to score pinch
runner Stephanie Precourt from second base. Warriors� pitcher Kristin
Fossell retired the Pointers in order in the bottom of the inning and the
game was called.
It marked the fourth tie in 865 games in
UW-Stevens Point history. It was only the second draw since 1984 with the
other coming in 2000 against Wheaton (Mass.). |
