Blue Devils battle back to earn split with Stevens Point

UW-Stevens Point 9, UW-Stout 4 | UW-Stout 9, UW-Stevens Point 7

MENOMONIE (April 2, 2021) - Kasey Bass hit a two-out, three-run double to left center to lift UW-Stout to comeback 9-7 win over UW-Stevens Point in the nightcap, Friday, April 2 at Nelson Field. The Pointers won the first game, 9-4.

The teams battled toe-to-toe in the second game with the Pointers (7-3, 3-1 WIAC) scoring three runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead, but Stout (4-6, 1-3 WIAC) came back two score two runs in the fourth inning on RBIs by Justin Schnell and Nolan Harke, then took a 4-3 lead with a two-run fifth inning on an RBI double by Riley Boushack and bunt single by Alex Jinkins.

The Pointers jumped out a 5-4 lead with two runs in the sixth and extended the lead to 7-4 with a two-run seventh. Stout got two of those runs back in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Bass and a sacrifice fly by Harke, and Stout trailed 7-6.

Trevor Miller came on to pitch in the bottom of the eighth, and it wasn't a good start for MIller as he walked the lead-off batter on four straight balls, the got behind 2-0 in the count. A mound conference settled Miller down and he forced a double play and recorded the third out on a looking strikeout.

In the eighth, Stout picked up two quick outs on flyouts on the first pitch to the first two batters. But the Blue Devils proved to be patient. Boushack drew a walk, then moved on Charlie Szykowny's single. The both moved on Alex Jinkins single to load the bases for Bass. The senior delivered on a 2-1 count, sending the ball off the bottom of the left field fence to clear the bases and and give Stout the lead. 

Miller finished the game with a solid effort to record his first collegiate win, forcing a flyout, another strike out looking and sealed the game on a pop fly to third base. Miller went two complete innings, allowing only the one walk and striking out two. 

Bass was 2 for 5 with four RBI. Szykowny was  4 for 5 with three runs scored. Boushack and Jinkins both were 2 for 4. Boushack scored two runs and Jinkins crossed home plate three times.

In the opener, the Pointers jumped on starter James Palmer for seven runs, four earned, to take a 7-1 lead off Palmer. The senior surrendered a season-high seven hits, but did strikeout four.

The Pointers' Payton Nelson hit a three-run double to highlight a four run fourth inning for the Pointers, and scored single runs in the first, second, sixth, eighth and nine innings to down UW-Stout, 9-4. Nelson finished the game going 2-for-5 with four RBI. Stout scored three runs in the eighth inning as Riley Boushack hit his first collegiate home run. Stout also got RBIs out of Kasey Bass and Hunter Merrill in the inning.

Bass was 2 for 4 with an RBI in the first game and finished the day going 4 for 9 with five RBI.

The Blue Devils will be at UW-Eau Claire, Tuesday, April 6, then host the Blugolds Friday, April 9, before closing out the series with a pair of games Saturday, April 10 at Carson Park.