MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team opened the 2022 season and split with Bethel University in US Bank Stadium Wednesday night. The last time the two teams faced off was one week prior to the COVID-19 shutdown of March 2020. The Royals (3-1) struck first and pulled ahead 5-2 in the first seven-inning game, but the Pioneers (1-1) answered back dishing out 11 hits in an 8-3 game two victory.
Jonathan Kelso went 3-7 on the day, tallying up three RBIs and three hits including two doubles. Ross Krist finished 5-6 on the day and tallied two RBIs and one double.
"I'm proud of the whole team's response after the tough first game. Ross Krist had a great day at the plate getting on base six times and really provided a huge spark for us on offense," said head coach Chad Harris. "Sam Hernandez and Isaac Bixby really stepped up on the mound in game 2. Sam had a huge shut down inning for us after we took the lead and though he made it a little interesting, Bixby did a good job closing it out."
Game 1
The Royals drew blood fast and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first when their fifth batter doubled to centerfield and was followed by another hit to center field to score the third runner. The Pioneers cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the second when Wyatt Molitor scored on a throwing error by the first baseman. Bethel added another run in the fourth and again in the fifth before Jonathan Kelso hit his first double of the day to score one final run for what would become the final 5-2 score.
Bethel's Max Sutter threw a complete game striking out six and walking none in earning his first win of the season. Michael Greco led off for the Pioneers and suffered the first loss of the season while striking out three and walking four in 3.1 innings, giving up four hits. Jake Schneider finished the final 3.1 innings, striking out one, walking none and allowing two hits.
Game 2
UW-Platteville shook off the bad taste of game one and got the edge early in game 2, taking a 2-0 lead after two innings. With two outs and a runner on first, Brady Katterhagen registered his first career hit and double to score one runner. Krist doubled the lead the next at bat with a single to center field to run in Katterhagen. The tides turned in the bottom of the third as the Royals drove in three runs to take a 3-2 lead, but the advantage was short-lived as the Pioneers took over control in the top of the fourth. With bases loaded and no outs after two walks, a hit by pitch and a Bethel pitching change, Katterhagen walked and gained an RBI to tie up the game. History repeated itself and Krist followed and walked to score the go-ahead run which proceeded the second pitching change of the inning. Unfortunately for the Royals, Kelso stepped up to the plate next and hit his second double of the day to score two runs. Mitchell McLaughlin's SAC fly scored the fifth runner and Garret Gillund's single and RBI gave the Pioneers an 8-3 advantage after 3.5 innings. Only two Royals made it on base for the remainder of the game.
A trio Pioneer pitchers got the job done in game two. Zach Lieb led off and struck out two, walked two and allowed four hits in 2.1 innings. Sam Hernandez claimed the first win of the season and struck out one and walked one batter in 2.2 innings. Isaac Bixby closed out the day striking out four and surrendering two hits in 2.0 innings.
The Pioneers will return to action on Tuesday, March 15 in Pensacola, Florida. UW-Platteville will face Rhodes at 2 p.m. in the team's first game of the Studer's Blue Wahoo Challenge.
