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By Levi Zimmerman
The Pointer softball team secured the win in their season opener against Southwestern in a SWAL matchup.
After the Pointers shutout the Wildcats in the top of the first inning, Sophomore Kaitlyn Cox crushed a pitch to centerfield that took one hop and hit the fence.
Cox hustled to second base as Ivy Lawinger scored to give the Pointers their first run on the season.
The Wildcats scored in the top of the third to tie the ball game at 1.
In the top of the fourth inning, Lawinger had back to back strikeouts for Mineral Point.
After another Lawinger strikeout, a Southwestern player crossed home base after a wild throw to third base.
The Pointers were able to hold the Wildcats to just one score after another strikeout by Lawinger.
In the bottom of the fifth, Mineral Point's Kennedy Kabat reached first base on a walk and then made it to second after a wild throw to first from Southwestern's catcher.
Kabat would then reach home after an RBI triple by Olivia Wendhausen.
The Pointers would then take the lead after a suicide squeeze attempt when Mallory Lindsey laid down a successful bunt as Wendhausen stole home plate.
Mineral Point would go on to load the bases, and Lindsey made it home after a walk.
The Pointers scored their fifth run when Cox hit a sacrifice fly.
Jayda Sudmeier got in on the hit parade when she hit a two-RBI double in the same inning.
Junior Lexi Kinch would score the seventh run of the inning with an RBI double that brought Hannah Smith home.
In the top of the seventh, Kabat took over for Lawinger who allowed just two runs.
Kabat started the inning with a strikeout of her own.
After allowing three runs, Kabat gained composure and threw another strikeout to end the game, and the Pointers secured a 9-5 win at home.
Summary:
Bottom 1st: Cox RBI double, Lawinger scores
Top 3rd: SW RBI single
Bottom 5th: Wendhausen RBI triple, Lindsey RBI single, Sudmeier 2 RBI double, Kinch RBI double
Pitching: Lawinger, MP 6.0 innings, 8 S/O Brant, SW 5.0 innings, 5 S/O
Kabat, MP 1.0 inning, 2 S/O
Batting: Wenger, MP 3 Hits Brant, SW 2 RBI Cox, MP 2 RBI Sudmeier, MP 2 RBI