WHITEWATER, Wis. – Despite two comeback attempts, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team (22-10, 5-3) dropped both games on the road to No. 19 UW-Whitewater (25-5, 4-2) Tuesday evening. The Pioneers scored 10 runs in the fifth of game one before falling 16-15 and lost the second game 5-4. 

In the first game, UW-Whitewater scored 10 runs in the first two frames and led 13-1 after four innings. Just three outs away from a run-rule win, the Warhawks' cage was rattled when sophomore Peyton Murphy sent one over the fences to lead off the fifth inning. With one out and one on base, junior Melissa Dietz's moon shot narrowed the score to 13-4. Chipping away, one single at a time and after the first pitching change, the Pioneers trailed 13-7, still with just one out. Then with bases loaded, sophomore Allison Peters cranked one out of the park over centerfield for a grand slam, making it a two-run game.

UW-Whitewater scored one run in the bottom of the fifth and UW-Platteville answered back with another run in the sixth, but two runs in the bottom of the sixth gave the Pioneers a four-run deficit to overcome in the final frame. 

The Pioneers proved once again to never count them out and Dietz singled through the right side to bat in the first run. Senior Jordan Johnson hit another RBI single for the second run to score and a sacrifice fly scored the third run. With the tying run on second, the Warhawks escaped the near monumental comeback on a ground out to third base.

Four Pioneers homered in game one as junior Felicia Teubert joined Peters, Dietz and Murphy. UW-Platteville held a 19-14 advantage in hits in the opener, but also committed six errors to the Warhawks' two, accounting for five unearned runs.

In the second game, UW-Whitewater once again jumped out to a large advantage, leading 5-0 after three innings. However, once more the Pioneers showcased their ability to work under pressure. With two outs and a runner on second in the top of the sixth, Johnson hit an RBI single to left field. UW-Platteville loaded the bases and an RBI walk cut the Warhawks lead to 5-2. Senior Taylor Roughen followed the freebie play up with a single to left field which scored two more runs, drawing UW-Platteville within one run again. The Pioneers were unable to tie the game in the seventh and the Warhawks escaped with their second near upset. 

Roughen (7-5) suffered the loss in game one as did freshman Bently Cutts (1-1) in the nightcap. Freshman Morgan Erickson came in for relief in both games and totaled four strikeouts in six innings pitched while walking three and allowing seven hits and three runs.

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday, April 26 when they travel to UW-Eau Claire for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.