SALEM, VA -- The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Fastpitch Softball Team climbed to the top of the mountain Monday morning in Salem, Virginia, besting Chapman University 3-1 to win their first-ever NCAA Division III National Championship.

Kelly Blaha (20-5) won her third game of the Championships, allowing eight hits and just the one earned run. She struck out four and walked three. Jill Kristof hit her second home run of the Championships, a two-run shot in the bottom of the first that gave UWSP the lead for good. The other run scored unearned in the bottom of the sixth.

The win caps a 43-15 season for the Pointers, who went 4-1 at the Championships. UWSP is the first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) school to win the Division III Fastpitch crown. UW-Whitewater was the National runner-up in 1987.

The team is scheduled to return to Point at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning. A media opportunity is being organized for sometime Tuesday. Additional information will be sent out as soon as it is finalized.

THURSDAY, MAY 14

Gm 1 #8 Muskingum 5 #1 Simpson 2
Gm 2 #4 Chapman 8 #5 Cortland State 0
Gm 3 #3 UW-Stevens Point 1 #6 Messiah 0
Gm 4 #2 Salisbury State 4 #7 Bridgewater State 1

FRIDAY, MAY 15

Gm 5 Simpson 5 Cortland State 4 (Cortland State eliminated)
Gm 6 Messiah 3 Bridgewater State 0 (Bridgewater State eliminated)
Gm 7 Chapman 8 Muskingum 1
Gm 8 UW-Stevens Point 10 Salisbury State 1

SATURDAY, MAY 16

Gm 9 Muskingum 2 Messiah 1 (Messiah eliminated)
Gm 10 Simpson 5 Salisbury State 0 (Salisbury State eliminated)
Gm 11 UW-Stevens Point 10 Chapman 0
Gm 12 Simpson 4 Muskingum 0 (Muskingum eliminated)

SUNDAY, MAY 17

Gm 13 Chapman 2 Simpson 1 (Simpson eliminated)
Gm 14 Chapman 6 UW-Stevens Point 3 (Championship Game #1)

MONDAY, MAY 18

Gm 15 UW-Stevens Point 3 Chapman 1 (CHAMPIONSHIP GAME)

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