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Pointers'
Postseason Run Ends in Extra Innings
UW-Stevens Point extended its unexpected
postseason run with a dramatic seventh inning rally, but the magic finally
came to an end with a 5-3 nine inning loss to Gustavus Adolphus at the
NCAA Division III regional in Decorah, Iowa on Friday.
The Pointers, who were granted an at-large bid
to the NCAA tournament, ended the season with a 33-10 overall record,
matching the third-highest victory total in school history and the fewest
losses in a season of at least 20 games. Gustavus Adolphus is now 35-9 and
takes on Wartburg at 4 p.m.
�This wasn�t the way we wanted to end our
season, but it was the place we hoped it would end,� Pointers� coach Ann
Munzenmaier said. �The way we battled back in this game shows the type of
resiliency this team had all year.�
The Pointers trailed 3-1 entering the final
inning, but scored two runs and even appeared to have the game won. Jackie
Berger drew a one-out walk and Laura Van Abel laid down a bunt single to
put runners on first and second. Korryn Brooks hit a grounder for a
potential double play, but the second baseman missed a tag on Van Abel and
threw wild to first, scoring Berger and putting runners at first and
third. Stephanie Anderson grounded out to tie the game and put the
potential winning run at second base.
Allison Dorn then hit a grounder to shortstop
deep in the hole near third base. The shortstop fielded the ball and threw
wild to first base, allowing pinch runner Katherine Mess to score from
second with the apparent winning run. However, the umpire ruled Mess out
for interference with the shortstop, sending the game to extra innings.
In the ninth, the Gusties had runners at second
and third with two outs when Allison Haase hit a pop up to shallow left
center that was dropped an allowed both runs to score.
�Our defense really let us down this weekend,�
Munzenmaier said. �We had a great rally today, but it was a bad time for
us to not play well.�
Stephanie Anderson pitched a complete game for
the Pointers and allowed 10 hits with three strikeouts. Joyce DeWitz
allowed nine hits and struck out five in a complete game for Gustavus
Adolphus.
Melissa Boldt was three-for-four and Van Abel
was two-for-four for the Pointers. Van Abel finished the season with a
20-game hitting streak on a first inning single and then set a
single-season school record with 65 hits on her seventh inning bunt. |
