Stout takes first game from Pointers in series split

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STEVENS POINT  (April 3, 2015) – UW-Stout snapped a 13-game losing streak to UW-Stevens Point when they split a pair of games at Stevens Point Friday at University Field.  Stout took the opener, 4-3, but the Pointers bounced back for a 7-4 win in the second game.
 
In the opener, the Blue Devils (11-5, 1-3 WIAC) carried a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning when the seventh ranked Pointers piled on three runs.
 
Neither team scored in the eighth inning, but the Blue Devils got the game winner in the top of the ninth.  Noah Brown hit a one out single, then following a strikeout, moved to second on Nick Nalbach's single through the left side. Brown scored when Josh Halling sliced a single to left center.
 
Hayden Bowe recorded his first complete game of the season when he retired the first two batters in the ninth, allowed a single up the middle, but recorded the win by forcing a ground out to third.  Bowe allowed nine hits, three earned runs, notched three strikeouts and gave up two walks to go to 3-0 on the season.
 
Nalbach put the Blue Devils on the board first in the fourth inning. After leading off the inning with a double, Nalbach advanced to third on an error, then came home on a wild pitch.
 
Stout doubled the score in the sixth. Brady Burzynski drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on Nalbach's sacrifice bunt, stole third and came home on Jack Schneider's fielders choice. The Blue Devils loaded the bases in the seventh and got their third run when Nalbach was hit by a pitch.
 
The Pointers (12-4, 3-1 WIAC) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, recording two runs on Kyle McHugh's double and a sacrifice fly by Cody Hanke.
 
Halling was 2-for-4, while Nalbach was 2-for-3. Bobby Gregorich was 2-for-5 for the Pointers and Jimmy Coady was 2-for-4. Stout's last win over the Pointers came on March 31, 2012, a 5-3 Stout win.
 
In the nightcap, the Pointers put up five runs. A base loaded error allowed in one run, Gregorich doubled in a pair of runs. Hanke's ground out brought in another and McHugh drove in the final run.  Gregorich's  solo home run gave the Pointers a 6-0 lead in the fifth.
 
Stout cut the lead to 6-3 in the sixth inning. Nalbach reached on an error, took second on a wild pitch, then came home on Halling's double. Halling came home when Schneider's single to right field was misplayed. Charlie Meyer drove in Schneider with a right field single. The Pointers made it 7-3 on Riley Spetz's ground out RBI in the bottom of the inning.
 
Stout threatened in the top of the ninth. Burzynski hit a one out double and Nalbach walked, setting the stage for a double steal. Burzynski came home on Schneider's sacrifice fly for the final run of the day.

Schneider finished the game going 3-for-4 as Stout pounded 10 hits for the second consecutive game.

Stout will host UW-Platteville, Tuesday, April 7 at 1 p.m., then will host St. Thomas, Saturday, April 11 at 1 p.m.