|
Pointers Stun
Blugolds With a Pair of Shutouts
Stephanie Anderson and Hope Krause combined for
a pair of shutouts as UW-Stevens Point achieved a memorable softball
performance on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep at fifth-ranked UW-Eau
Claire.
Anderson pitched a six-inning five-hitter in
an 8-0 opening-game win, while Krause fired a one-hitter in a 1-0
victory in the second game to extend the Pointers� winning streak to
seven games.
The defeats snapped the Blugolds� 18-game home
conference winning streak and marked the first time they have been
shutout twice at home by a conference opponent. UW-Stevens Point had
lost 18 of the previous 20 meetings between the teams and swept the
Blugolds for the first time since April 4, 1989, though the schools were
in different divisions for many of the previous seasons.
UW-Stevens Point jumped out to a quick lead in
the opening game as Anderson ripped a two-run single for a 2-0 lead in
the first inning. Laura Van Abel followed with a three-run double in the
second inning for a 5-0 advantage.
Meanwhile, Anderson cruised along, finishing
with seven strikeouts and one walk in her complete game. Korryn Brooks
added a two-run double and Anderson hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to
provide the needed margin to put the eight-run rule in effect.
Krause kept Blugolds� hitters off balance
throughout in the second game with only one strikeout and no walks. She
carried a no-hitter until two outs in the sixth when she surrendered a
single by Mandy Tschernach.
The Pointers also didn�t manage much offense
with four hits off Blugolds� pitcher Stacy Epping. However, senior
Melissa Boldt provided the game�s only run with a solo homer in the
third inning. It was Boldt�s first career home run in her 96th game with
the Pointers.
UW-Stevens Point is now 17-3 overall, while
UW-Eau Claire, which had scored 69 runs over its previous seven games,
fell to 15-7 overall. The games were the conference openers for both
teams. |
