EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team split a WIAC doubleheader Saturday at UW-Eau Claire. The Pioneers (24-12, 7-5) captured the opener 8-5 before falling by a score of 6-0 to the Blugolds (14-16, 3-7) in game two.

The 24 victories in a season is a program best since the 2003 squad captured 24 wins.  

The Pioneers got on the board first when freshman Melissa Dietz homered in the first inning. The Blugolds answered back with a homerun of their own in the first to take a 3-1 lead. 

Dietz homered again to lead off the fourth inning and sophomore Danielle Trumbo tied things up with a RBI single through the left side. 

Senior Claire Bakkestuen joined the homerun party with homerun to right center in the sixth inning for two RBI to take the lead. Senior Amanda Stanczuk ran in another and grounded out while sophomore Jordan Johnson collected two RBI with a single to center field for an 8-3 advantage. UW-Eau Claire added one run in the sixth and seventh for a final score of 8-5. 

Bakkestuen (11-4) collected the win and pitched all seven innings striking out 10, walking none and allowing 11 hits and five runs. Ten strikeouts ties the senior's best from May of 2021 against UW-Stout. 

The Blugolds held the edge in game two and got on the board in the second with two unearned runs. The home team added four more in the sixth with a pair of two RBI homeruns.  

Freshman Calli Storms had a team high 2-of-3 showing at the plate in game two. 

Sophomore Taylor Roughen (12-6) suffered the loss and pitched 5.1 innings striking out three, walking none and allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned).  

The Pioneers return to action in a week with their regular season finale at UW-Oshkosh. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m