LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (14-14, 9-11 WIAC) split a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader with 10th-ranked UW-La Crosse (25-7, 15-5 WIAC) taking game one 4-2 before falling 7-6 in game two from Copeland Park in La Crosse.

Game One

Junior Sam Meidenbauer was the catalyst for the offense in the first couple innings, hitting solo home runs in both the second and fourth innings to put the Pioneers in front 2-0. The home runs bring Meidenbauer to seven total on the season, including five in the past four games.

On the mound, junior Pierce Nelson held the Eagles to one run across the first five innings, with a fifth-inning solo home run the only blemish on his final line. Nelson struck out three while scattering three hits and two walks.

UW-La Crosse tied the game with a two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth inning, but sophomore Caleb Parker responded in the bottom of the frame with a two-out, two-run homer. The Eagles threatened in the ninth, putting two runners in scoring position with just one out, but sophomore Peerson Kephart escaped with a groundout and a flyout as the Pioneers held on for the 4-2 win.

Kephart was credited with the win after throwing the final four innings and allowing just the one run in the eighth. He struck out one while giving up six hits and walking one.

Three of UW-Platteville's six hits were home runs, while sophomore Connor Gresens tallied the team's fourth extra-base hit with a double in the second inning. Senior Slate Higa and freshman Trinity Beland were the other two Pioneers to pick up hits.

Game Two

The Eagles put up three in the top half of the first inning, but the Pioneers answered with three in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Senior Jake Wegner opened the scoring for UW-Platteville with an RBI single, and Parker came in to score on a wild pitch for the second run. Meidenbauer capped the first inning scoring with an RBI groundout that brought in Wegner.

UW-La Crosse pulled ahead with a pair of multi-run innings in the third and fourth to lead 7-3. Senior Xavier Lara cut into the deficit with a pinch-hit RBI single in the fifth inning, and a sacrifice fly by senior Riley Dutton in the eighth made it 7-5.

The Pioneers loaded the bases with one out in the ninth and scored one on a fielder's choice groundout by junior Mason Molitor. But the comeback attempt came up short as the final out was recorded via a groundout and UW-Platteville fell 7-6.

Junior Sawyer Molitor was dealt the loss on the mound after allowing two earned runs across 1.1 innings. UW-Platteville was able to hold the Eagles scoreless across the final five innings, with one inning from freshman Brayden Schimmel and four frames from sophomore Wyatt Fischer.

UW-Platteville out-hit the Eagles 13-10, with senior Brady Katterhagen leading the way with a 3-for-5 performance. Wegner put together a two-hit game, and Meidenbauer reached base three times in the loss.

Up Next

The Pioneers will host UW-Eau Claire for a four-game weekend series on Saturday and Sunday, with game times on both days are scheduled for noon and 3 p.m. Sunday's contests will also be the Marc Heidorf Memorial Games.