PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Junior Anthony Massa homered three times, including a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning of game two, as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (12-3, 3-1 WIAC) swept UW-Stout (6-7, 1-3 WIAC) in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers took game one 11-4 before pulling off a comeback to win 8-4 in game two from Kendall Murray Field.

Game One
After a three-run first inning for UW-Stout, Massa evened the score for the Pioneers in the bottom half of the frame with a three-run home run to centerfield.

UW-Platteville then grabbed the lead in the third with three more runs, starting with an RBI single by junior Connor Gresens that scored senior Mason Molitor. Sophomore Trinity Beland drove in another with a sacrifice fly before junior Spencer Robertson hustled in to score on a wild pitch.

In the sixth, Massa hit his second home run of the game, a no-doubt shot to left field that make it 8-3 in favor of the Pioneers. Another run scored in the inning on a bunt by junior Dylan Rippentrop and UW-Platteville capped its scoring of the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Gresens.

Senior Isaac Bixby threw a 126-pitch complete game for the Pioneers, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out 11. He settled in after allowing the three first inning runs and held UW-Stout scoreless until giving up one more in the ninth.

At the plate, the Pioneers put together 12 hits and drew another 11 walks. Knoll had a team-high three hits, while Massa went 2-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI. Beland also had a multi-hit game for UW-Platteville.
 
Game Two
Beland was hit by pitch to lead off the bottom of the first and later came around to score on a balk. UW-Stout tied the game the following inning on a home run to right field.

After a scoreless third, the Blue Devils jumped out to a 4-1 lead behind a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer. The Pioneers got one back in the fifth on an RBI single by junior Evan Bohr, but stranded the bases loaded.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, Molitor came through with a clutch double that scored both Beland and Elwood and tied the game at four apiece. Following a fourth consecutive scoreless inning from freshman pitcher Sam Callow, Massa provided the decisive swing in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Massa drove a go-ahead gram slam down the right field line to make it 8-4 in favor of the Pioneers.

Callow retired the side in the top of the ninth to secure the UW-Platteville win and earn his third win of the campaign. Callow's final line included five shutout innings and seven strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one walk.

UW-Platteville finished with seven hits, all coming from different players. Elwood reached base three times via walk, leading the way as the Pioneers drew eight walks a team. Beland scored three runs to pace the team, while Massa drove in a team-leading four runs.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers travel to UW-River Falls to continue conference play with a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Friday's games begin at 1 p.m. with Saturday set to start at noon.


*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.