PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team split a nonconference doubleheader against Loras College on Tuesday night at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex. The Pioneers fell 11-0 in five innings before bouncing back to defeat the Duhawks 4-0 in the second game.
Since the doubleheader was moved to Platteville, the Pioneers (12-9) batted first but struggled the first game to get within scoring position. The Duhawks' (17-5) offense started out hot and scored four runs in the first inning before following it up with seven more across the next two innings to lock in the five-inning victory.
In the second game, both teams went three and out in the first inning, but UW-Platteville got on the board in the second behind an RBI double to left center by junior
Rylee Broshous. Loras loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning, but a fly out to center field got the final out and kept the Duhawks off the board.
UW-Platteville held on to the 1-0 advantage until senior
Greta Volkening scored one run in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from junior
Allison Peters. Senior
Melissa Dietz stepped up next and hit a bomb over center field to score two more runs and push the advantage to 4-0.
Freshman
Nora Buske took over for junior
Avery Lundblad in the circle in the bottom of the sixth and struck out Rachel Peat for a huge third out with bases loaded. The Duhawks had runners on second and third once again in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Buske preserved the win with another strikeout and then cleanly fielded a ground ball for the final out of the game.
Lundblad (W, 2-2) pitched the first 5.1 innings and tallied five strikeouts while walking none and allowing five hits. Buske finished the final 1.2 innings and recorded three strikeouts while walking two and allowing one hit.
The Pioneers will start up WIAC play on Saturday, April 11 when they travel to UW-River Falls for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
*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.
