By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MARSHFIELD — Stevens Point batted around in the first two innings and took advantage of every Marshfield mistake to pour on 16 runs on its way to a 17-5 victory over the Tigers in a Wisconsin Valley Conference softball game Tuesday at the Marshfield Fairgrounds.

Leadoff hitter Ally Miklesh reached on an error, and Stevens Point followed with four-straight hits to break open the game before Marshfield was able to bat.

Hailey Her added an RBI double later in the inning to put the Panthers up 5-0.

Miklesh got things rolling in the second as well, reaching on a wild pitch after striking out. She promptly stole second, and after a walk Point had three hits in a row to make it 8-0.

Marshfield pitcher Megan Donahue failed to get out of the second inning, walking a pair and then hitting two batters to force in two more runs.

Aubrey Drohner had an RBI double, and Shaylee Kluck and Jordan Kawlewski each had RBI singles to put Stevens Point (3-0 overall and Wisconsin Valley Conference) up 16-0.

“They did what they needed to do and put the ball in play,” Marshfield coach Mike Voss said. “Megan was throwing strikes, but they made her throw a lot of pitches, and I think she started wearing down a little bit and started getting a little bit wild.”

Caitlyn Kozik settled in on the mound for the Tigers (3-1 overall, 1-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference) after giving up two runs and five hits after entering in the second. She allowed just one run and three hits over the next three innings and struck out three.

Kozik also got Marshfield on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the fourth.

Marshfield scored four times against Point reliever Payton Gaber to provide the final margin. Donahue had a two-run single, and Kozik and Mary Kloos each walked with the bases loaded to plate the final four runs.

“We have to make plays on defense when they give us the opportunity to do so,” Voss said. “When you give them four or five outs in an inning, it’s going to come back and haunt us, and that’s what it did in that first and second inning.

“Caitlin did a good job of throwing strikes, and we started making some plays behind her. That made a big difference the last couple of innings.”

Marshfield plays at Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Panthers 17, Tigers 5

Stevens Point 5(11)0 10 – 17 16 1

Marshfield 000 14 – 5 5 3

WP: Aubrey Drohner. LP: Megan Donahue.

SO: Drohner 3, Payton Gaber 2, Shaylee Kluck 1; Donahue 2, Caitlin Kozik 3. BB: Drohner 1, Gaber 4, Kluck 1; Doanhue 3, Kozik 0.

Top hitters: SP, Ally Miklesh 2×4, 3 runs; Halle Pavelski 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Drohner 3×4, 2B, 2 RBIs; Kelsey Godin 3 runs; Kluck 4×4, 3 runs; 4 RBIs; Gaber 3×4, 2 RBIs; Jordan Kawlewski 2 RBIs; Hailey Ehr 2B. M, Kozik HR, 2 RBIs; Donahue 2 RBIs.

Records: Stevens Point 3-0 overall and Wisconsin Valley Conference; Marshfield 3-1, 1-1 WVC.