JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team picked up two wins on Friday, defeating Illinois College (9-8) by scores of 16-11 and 9-7 at Joe Brooks Field. 

With the pair of wins, the Pioneers improve to 8-2 on the year, the best start for the team since the 2016 season. 

Game One
Junior Tarron Bockhop homered in the second inning to put the first run of the game on the scoreboard, but Illinois answered with a pair of doubles and a home run in the bottom of the second to take a 5-1 lead. Junior Connor Gresens picked up three RBI on singles in the third and fourth innings, but the Blueboys still held a 6-4 advantage going into the sixth inning.

A two-RBI home run by sophomore Anthony Massa quickly tied the game and UW-Platteville would score a total of seven runs in the sixth inning, including two runs on a home run by freshman Brayden Knoll. The Pioneers went on to spread five more runs across the final three innings, including the team's fourth home run of the game by freshman Kaleb Elwood in the eighth inning. 

Junior William Hough (W, 1-0) captured the win on the mound as he struck out two, walked five, and allowed zero hits and three runs in 4.1 innings. 

The Pioneers as a whole totaled 17 hits with Knoll finishing the game 5-for-6, including a double and home run. 
 
Game Two
UW-Platteville jumped out to an early lead as three runs crossed the plate when Massa homered in the first inning. The Blueboys then answered with six runs of their own before the start of the third inning. Both teams held each other scoreless until another Illinois run scored in the seventh inning on an error. 

Trailing 7-3 going into the ninth inning, the Pioneers kicked off a dramatic comeback when Knoll singled to center field with basses loaded, scoring two runs. UW-Platteville reloaded the bases and then walked in a third run. Junior Evan Bohr picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice to third base to tie the game at seven and the go-ahead run scored next on a error by the second baseman. Massa finished the thrilling comeback with an RBI-single.

Freshman Carver Kamentz took to the mound and struck out the first two batters faced before the next grounded out to second, securing the save. Sophomore Logan Kottmeyer (W, 1-0) pitched the eighth inning and is credited with the win. 

UW-Platteville totaled 16 hits and four errors in the game. Massa accounted for four RBI and was 4-for-6.

The Pioneers will return to action on Tuesday, March 24 when they face Loras College in the home opener at Kendall Murray Field. 

 
*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a free ice cream cone (with purchase) the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering a free churro (with purchase) the day after each Pioneer win.