PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team swept the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Saturday's home doubleheader, rolling to an 11-6 victory in game one before a comeback 17-11 win in game two.
The Pioneers improve to 15-9 and 3-0 in WIAC play while the Blugolds fell to 23-9 and 3-3 in conference play.
Game 1
The Pioneers were first to strike, posting an early run behind an RBI single by junior
Allison Peters in the bottom of the first. Senior Cali Storms doubled the lead in the second inning with an RBI single to left center, and the Pioneers defense kept the Blugolds off the board through two, with the battery only facing eight batters in two innings.
UW-Eau Claire tied the game in the third with a two-RBI double to right center, but the Pioneers quickly regained their two-run advantage in the bottom of the third with a two-RBI single by freshman
Tessa Britt.
The lead was cut to one run in the top of the fifth, but senior
Melissa Dietz drove in two runs in the bottom of the fifth off a double to right field. The Pioneers then loaded the bases and a hit by pitch and walk scored two more runs. Senior pinch hitter,
Morgan Brummer's two-RBI single to left center extended the advantage to 10-3 before the final out of the fifth inning. Junior
Mia Savage drove in the Pioneers' final run of the game with a double to center field in the bottom of the sixth.
Junior
Avery Lundblad started the game for UW-Platteville and pitched four innings, striking out two, walking one and allowing seven hits and two runs. Freshman
Nora Buske (W, 4-2) came in for relief and struck out five, walked four and allowed three hits and two runs in two and two-thirds innings.
Game 2
The Blugolds were the first two strike in the second game, scoring one run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly. The game was quickly tied in the bottom of the first behind a solo home run by Dietz. UW-Eau Claire added another run in the second and two more in the third, but sophomore
Delaney Johnson tied the game in the bottom of the third when she doubled down the left line to score two runs and then scored shortly after on a wild pitch.
UW-Eau Claire added one run in the fourth before the Pioneers reclaimed the lead, 7-5, in the bottom of the inning with an RBI walk, a run scored on an error and then a RBI single by freshman
Addison Conrad.
Momentum shifted back to the Blugolds when six runs scored in the top of the fifth. The Pioneers did not back down, and a single up the middle by freshman
Delila Liston drove in one run. With two on, the Blugolds then walked Peters with a full count and were forced to choose between intentionally walking Dietz for a third-straight at-bat which would walk in one run, or risk it and pitch to the senior. UW-Eau Claire took a chance and Dietz made them pay for it as she shot her second home run of the game over center field for the grand slam and the 12-11 advantage. The Pioneers were not done with the inning and would score four more runs behind an RBI single by freshman
Kaia McVay, a wild pitch, an RBI single by senior
Caitlin Giacomo, and an RBI single by freshman
Gabby Hird. Britt drove in the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth with a single to left field.
Freshman
Payton Gile got the start in the second game and struck out one, walked none, and allowed six hits and four runs in two and one third innings. Senior
Carlie Jo Brownlee took over in the circled and threw two innings of relief, striking out four, walking two and surrendering three hits and five runs. Lundblad (W, 4-2) tossed the final two innings where she struck out one, walked one and allowed one hit and zero runs.
The Pioneers will return home on Sunday, April 19 for a non-conference doubleheader against Grinnell College. The first pitch of the Down Syndrome Awareness doubleheader is scheduled for 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.
