Sports
Pointers split in doubleheader
The Pointer
afres251@uwsp.edu
On April 22, 2008, the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point softball team split a doubleheader against St. Norbert College in the home finale.
Defensively, the Pointers started out well with pitcher Hope Krause not allowing a single hit in the first four innings and striking out three batters. Offensively, the Pointers couldn’t come through as they only received one hit through the first four innings off a bunt by Laura Van Abel.
While both teams had runners in scoring position in the fifth inning, neither were able to advance them home leaving the score tied at zero.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Green Knights had a pair of two-out RBI singles to give them a 2-0 lead, but the Pointers answered back in the bottom of the sixth as Chelsea McIlquham smashed a two-run homerun over the center field fence tying the score at two.
As neither team was able to score, the game went into extra innings and the Green Knights wasted no time in putting runs on the board. After a leadoff single and a walk in the top of the eighth inning, the Green Knights hit a three-run homerun giving them the lead 5-2. The Pointers were unable to reach base in the bottom of the eighth giving the win to St. Norbert College with a final score on 5-2.
The Pointers only received three hits and despite having seven strikeouts, Krause recorded the loss.
The Pointers fared much better in the second game taking an early lead by a two-run homerun by Allison Dorn in the second inning. The Pointers continued to rank in runs in the third inning when Elyse Nelson hit a two out single to left field allowing two runs to score to give the Pointers a 4-0 lead.
After holding the Green Knights to zero runs, the Pointers added even more cushion to their lead in the fourth with a leadoff double off the bat of Dorn. Van Abel hit a single down the right field line to score Dorn and increase their lead to five.
In the fifth inning, McIlquham hit her second home run of the day with a solo shot to right center giving the Pointers a 6-0 lead.
Both teams were scoreless in the next two innings giving the Pointers the win with a final score of 6-0. Kayla Kastenmeier received the win with a complete game shut out improving her record to 13-2. She allowed only five hits and tied a school record with 13 strikeouts.
The Pointers will play again on Saturday, April 26, 2008 in a doubleheader at Eau Claire. The first game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.
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