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THIS WEEK'S GAMES: UW-Stout (12-20, 2-8 WIAC) will wrap up the regular season Friday, April 29 when they travel to UW-Stevens Point (16-16, 1-9 WIAC) for a 3 p.m. start. The match-up was originally scheduled for April 15, but was first postponed to May 1. The April 29 date was made available when St. Benedict needed to cancel a non-conference contest with Stout to play a conference contest.
A QUICK LOOK AT THIS LAST WEEK: Highs and lows - and cold windy weather - marked this last week for the Blue Devils. Stout grabbed their first conference wins since the 2019 season (don't forget the 2020 season was canceled after four games due to the COVID-19 pandemic) when Stout swept UW-Platteville, April 24, winning 7-5, 2-1, on Senior Day. The Blue Devils then were swept by UW-La Crosse, 9-0 (5 inn) and 4-2, April 26, in a doubleheader that was originally scheduled for April 23. Stout lost both ends of their doubleheader with UW-Eau Claire, April 27, falling 6-1, 13-4. All the teams are scrambling to get their games in this week. The Pointers lost by identical 5-4 scores to Eau Claire, April 23, split with Platteville, winning the first 11-7, but losing the second, 7-4, April 26, then dropped a pair of one run decisions at UW-Oshkosh, 3-2, 6-5, April 27. The Pointers host UW-River Falls, Saturday, April 30.
2022 UW-Stout Schedule
Date / Opponent / Time or Result
Sat, Feb. 19 / vs. Nebraska Wesleyan / L 8-2
Sat, Feb. 19 / vs. Buena Vista / W 5-4
Sun, Feb. 20 / vs. Concordia-Minn / W 14-2
Sun, Feb. 20 / vs. Northland College / W 5-2
Sat, Feb. 26 / vs. Bethel University / L 6-0
Sat, Feb. 26 / vs. Northwestern / W 6-3
Sun, Feb. 27 / at Bethany Lutheran / L 9-1 (5 inn)
Sun, Feb. 27 / vs. Gustavus Adolphus / L 9-6
Sun, March 13 / vs. North Park / W 2-1
Sun, March 13 / vs. Endicott / L 8-0 (6 inn)
Mon, March 14 / vs. Wooster / L 8-6
Mon, March 14 / vs. Plattsburgh State / W 9-4
Tue, March 15 / vs. Lasell University / W 6-5
Tue, March 15 / vs. Macalester College / W 7-1
Thu, March 17 / vs. Franklin & Marshall / L 3-2
Thu, March 17 / vs. Springfield College / L 7-0
Fri, March 18 / vs. Western New England / W 4-2
Fri, March 18 / vs. Millikin University / L 12-1
Sat, March 26 / at St. Benedict / ppd to April 29
Sat, March 26 / at Bethany Lutheran / W 15-3, L 8-4
Sat, April 9 / at UW-Oshkosh* / L 8-6, L 5-3
Sun, April 10 / at UW-Whitewater* / L 2-0, L 8-0 (5)
Fri, April 15 / at UW-Stevens Point* / ppd to May 1
Tue, April 19 / UW-River Falls* / L 8-0 (5), L 16-2
Thu, April 21 / at Luther College / L 17-0 (5), L 8-0 (5)
Sun, April 24 / UW-Platteville* / W 7-5, W 2-1
Tue, April 26 / UW-La Crosse* / L 9-0 (5), L 4-2
Wed, April 27 / at UW-Eau Claire* / L 6-1, L 14-3
Fri, April 29 / at St. Benedict / canceled
Sun, May 1 / at UW-Stevens Point* / 1 p.m.
May 6-8 / WIAC Championship
*denotes WIAC games
UW-STOUT: Shortstop
Shannon Jones, outfielder
Korin Hall, catcher/designated player
Lexy Kupczak and first baseman
Ashley Jacobson are leading the Blue Devils at the plate, with Kupczak batting .328 (20-61) with 12 runs scored, four doubles and a league-leading seven home runs for a team-best 20 RBI. Kupczak's seven home runs are the most home runs in a single season since Alison Gray hit nine and Sam Hastings hit seven in the 2013 season. Kupczak took only seven at-bats last season. Hall is coming a solid day Wednesday against UW-Eau Claire when she was a combined 5-6 at the plate, raising her batting average from .284 to .325. Hall has 26 hits in 80 at-bats and has scored a team-high 17 runs. Hall leads the WIAC in stolen bases with 20 in 22 chances. Jones is batting .307 (27-88) over 32 games. Jones has 13 RBI with eight doubles, three triples and one home run. Jacobson is hitting .306 (222-72) and connected on her first career home run against Platteville.
Kate Funk has three home runs and five doubles.
ON THE BASE PATHS: Korin Hall stole two bases in each game Wednesday at Eau Claire, running her conference-leading totals to 20 stolen bases. No Blue Devil has stolen 20 or more bases in a single season since Kyncaide Diedrich stole 27 in 2019. Hall stole four bases all of last season and had nine total stolen bases coming into this season. Her 29 career stolen bases puts her eighth on the UW-Stout all-time list. Freshman
Hannah Timm has stolen seven bases this season and
Emma Muehlenbeck six.
Alyssa Albrecht and
Katelyn Belleau have each stolen three. As a team, Stout has stolen 49 bases, third in the WIAC.
IN THE CIRCLE: Freshman
Anna Blanford is leading the Blue Devils in wins (5-5) and ERA (3.35), starting 10 games and throwing a team best 71.0 innings.
Madee Kleinschmidt has a team-high 12 starts for 65.1 innings pitched.
Mackensie Wolterstorff has started seven games and thrown 52.1 innings. Wolterstorff leads the team in strikeouts with 60, followed by Kleinschmidt (38) and Blanford (21).
THIS LAST WEEK: Stout grabbed when they swept UW-Platteville, April 24, winning 7-5, 2-1, on Senior Day. The Blue Devils then were swept by UW-La Crosse, 9-0 (5 inn) and 4-2, April 26, in a doubleheader that was originally scheduled for April 23. Stout lost both ends of their doubleheader with UW-Eau Claire, April 27, falling 6-1, 13-4. |
Platteville Game Story and Stats |
La Crosse Game Story and Stats |
Eau Claire Game Story and Stats
WIAC PRESEASON POLL: UW-Stout was picked to finish eighth in the 2022 WIAC preseason poll by conference coaches and sports information directors. UW-Oshkosh was picked to win the regular season title, followed by UW-Whitewater, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls and UW-Stout. |
WIAC Preseason Poll
SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT: The Pointers are led at the plate by center fielder Maddie Candre, hitting at a .396 clip (40-101) with 13 doubles and 12 RBI. Candre has drawn 19 walks. Becca Geiyer leads the team in runs batted in with 28. Geiyer has a league-best five sacrifice flies and leads the team in stolen bases with 12. Meg Lawrence has driven in 25 runs, and is tied for team lead in home runs at three with pitcher Abby Van Beek, who is hitting .372 (29-78) and 19 RBI. Jessie Klicker and Maddie Candre are first and second, respectively, in doubles, with Klicker slicing 15 and Candre 13. Van Beek has started 20 games and made 28 appearances over 99.1 innings pitched, posting a 9-10 overall record with an 2.96 ERA and 81 strikeouts. Makenna Tkach has started 10 games, while appearing in a team-best 29 games. Tkach has 70 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.53. Van Beek has three saves and Tkach two. |
Softball Website |
Schedule |
Coaching Staff |
Statistics |
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Ryan Konitzer; 6th season (5th at UWSP); 89-106-1 (overall) / 76-81-1 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/10
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 2/0
Returning All-WIAC: Maddie Candre, Sr., OF (2019-Honorable, 2021-First/Position Player of the Year): Becca Geiyer, Jr., INF (2021-First); Makenna Tkach, Jr., RHP (2021-First); Sara Traxel, Jr., UTIL (2021-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: Meg Lawrence, Jr., OF
Notable Returning Pitchers: MacKenzie Honish, So., RHP
LAST TIME OUT: The Pointers split a pair of games April 26 with UW-Platteville, winning the first 11-7, but losing the second, 7-4. The following day, Stevens Point played nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh tight, losing a pair of one-run games, 3-2, 6-5, at Oshkosh. |
Platteville Game Story and Stats |
Oshkosh Game Story and Stats
LAST TIME THEY MET: UW-Stout honored their five graduating seniors,
Michala Belter,
Melea Bruns,
Jessica Christiansen,
Meghan Kelly and
Sommer Kunstmann, throughout their conference doubleheader with UW-Stevens Point, but the Pointers spoiled the party by sweeping the day, 8-5, 9-2, May 7, 2021, at Alumni Field. The Pointers hold a 33-27 lead in the series. |
Game Story and Stats |
History
Athletes of the Week: Week Four:
Ashley Jacobson, So, Roseville, Minn;
Week Three:
Shannon Jones, Sr, Watertown, Wis. (Lakeside Lutheran);
Week Two:
Emma Muehlenbeck, Fr, Mount Prospect, Ill./
Anna Blanford, Fr, Elmwood, Wis;
Week One: Shannon Jones, Sr, Watertown, Wis./
Anna Blanford, Fr, Elmwood, Wis;
COACH CHRIS ILIOPOULOS: Blue Devil coach
Chris Iliopoulos (12-22) is in his first year as the head coach of the Blue Devils with the 2022 season. Iliopoulos was the Blue Devils' assistant coach for four seasons before assuming the head role last summer. The Blue Devils have one twice as many games as in the previous season.
NFCA RANKINGS: UW-Oshkosh is the only WIAC team currently ranked in the April 26 NFCA poll, holding down the 19th spot after a pair of losses last week to UW-La Crosse. The Eagles are receiving votes. Stout has played 23rd-ranked Millikin Universit |
NFCA Top 25 poll
LAST SEASON: The Blue Devils finished the 2021 season at 6-26 and 0-14 in the WIAC, but took UW-Oshkosh into extra innings before bowing out 4-3 in 10 innings to the top seeded team in the conference in the first round of the WIAC playoffs.
ON DECK: The WIAC Softball Championship is May 6-8.
