WHITEWATER, Wis. – After falling in game one, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (18-19, 13-15 WIAC) beat second-ranked UW-Whitewater (34-4, 24-4 WIAC) 3-1 in game two to clinch a spot in the upcoming WIAC Tournament from Prucha Field in Whitewater on Saturday afternoon.

Game One

The Pioneers scored three times in the first inning, starting with an RBI single by freshman Anthony Massa. The final two runs of the frame came in on RBI groundouts by junior Sam Meidenbauer and sophomore Connor Gresens.

UW-Whitewater's offense was humming early, scoring twice in the first inning before taking the lead in the second on a three-run home run. The Warhawks continued to add runs over the next couple innings, and after four innings, the home team lead 12-3.

A sacrifice fly by freshman Trinity Beland made it 12-4, but the Warhawks scored seven more runs over the next two innings to extend the lead to 15. UW-Whitewater secured the seven inning win in game one 19-4.

UW-Platteville finished with seven hits in the game, compared to 16 for UW-Whitewater. Gresens was the lone Pioneers with multiple hits. On the mound, senior Brady Hoppert was charged with the loss after giving up nine runs (seven earned) across the first three innings.

Game Two

Junior Jordan Stanton was dominant in game two for the Pioneers, throwing eight innings while allowing just one unearned run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth frame. It was the longest outing of the season for Stanton, and he allowed just four hits and walked one while striking out three for his third win on the year.

On the offensive side, Meidenbauer provided UW-Platteville will all the offense it needed, driving in all three runs in the game. He put the Pioneers ahead in the fourth with a one-out double that scored Massa before connecting on his 11th home run on the season in the sixth, a two-run shot that once again scored Massa. The 11 home runs ties the UW-Platteville single-season record.

Holding on to the two-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Peerson Kephart entered the game and secured his fifth of the season while working around one hit.

The win secured UW-Platteville's entrance into next week's WIAC Tournament, the first for the program since the 2021 season.

Senior Jake Wegner went 3-for-4 in the win, while Massa and Meidenbauer each recorded a pair of hits as the Pioneers totaled nine as a team.

Up Next

The Pioneers will host Edgewood in a non-conference game on Monday at 4 p.m. to conclude the regular season before traveling for the WIAC Tournament on Thursday.