UWSP has eye on WIAC postseason title

(The following story includes quotes courtesy of the Stevens Point Journal)

UW-Stevens Point enters this weekend’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Pointers finished the regular season with a 27 & 13 record including a 16-8, second place finish in the conference.

The Pointer’s will meet UW-Platteville in the opener of the double-elimination tournament Friday at James B. Miller Stadium. The first pitch is set for 10 a.m.

The Pointers will be looking for a sixth consecutive automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Whitewater and Point split their four-game series last month in Whitewater.

“You need to understand that nothing you did in the regular season means you did in the regular season means you have the advantage now,” Bloom tells the Stevens Point Journal. “The postseason is a totally different animal.”

This year’s conference tournament has been cut to a three-team, double-elimination affair. According to UWSP head coach Pat Bloom, it is a format that favors the No. 1 seed.

It’s conceivable that the winner of the Point-Platteville game could play three games Friday. The No. 1 seed could win the WIAC’s automatic berth by winning just two games.

“The new format give an even greater advantage to the No. 1 seed,” This format means you have to line up your starting pitching right away and you must get quality starts from them.”

The UWSP pitching staff is led by Joel Delorit. The junior out of Southern Door High School enters the weekend coming off three consecutive eight inning complete game victories.

Delorit ranks fourth in the WIAC in ERA (3.64) and his 78 strikeouts leads the conference.

“This is not different than any other tournament. You’ve got to get good pitching, and the offense has to consistently perform for us,” Bloom said. “You have to find a way to win games early in the tournament so you don’t back yourself against the wall.”

The winner of this weekend’s conference tournament receives the WIAC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament that begins next week.