EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (18-17, 9-15 WIAC) suffered a pair of tight losses to UW-Eau Claire (19-16, 12-11 WIAC) on Sunday afternoon from Carson Park. The Pioneers lost game one 4-2 before falling 7-6 in 10 innings to conclude the weekend.

Game One
A two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning put the Blugolds ahead, and the home team added single runs in the fourth and fifth frames to lead 5-0 after five. In the top of the sixth, junior Evan Bohr led off with a single and stole second base before coming in to score the Pioneers first run of the game on a double by junior Caleb Parker.

In the top of the ninth, senior Mason Molitor led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Spencer Robertson to cut UW-Platteville's deficit to 4-2. But that was the final run of the contest as UW-Eau Claire hung on for the win.

The Pioneers finished with six total hits in game one, all coming from different players. Sophomore Anthony Massa reached three times (one hit, two walks), while Molitor and Parker recorded the team's two extra base hits of the contest.

On the mound, freshman Cade Voelker dropped to 0-2 on the season after allowing two runs across his two innings. In relief, senior Wyatt Fischer tossed four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out five.
 
Game Two
Both teams traded runs and the score sat even at three apiece heading into the bottom half of the sixth. Freshman Brayden Knoll drove in UW-Platteville's first run of the game with a fourth inning single, while Parker knocked in senior Connor Gresens with a single in the fourth. Freshman Kaleb Elwood tied the game at three with his sixth inning single that scored Knoll.

The Blugolds regained the lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, but the Pioneers battled back and got an RBI single from Parker in the seventh and a game-tying single by Massa in the top of the ninth.

In extra innings, Molitor put the Pioneers ahead for the first time with a solo home run to lead off the 10th inning, but UW-Eau Claire scored twice in the bottom of the frame to walk it off for a 7-6 win.

The Pioneers offense put together 11 hits, led by a 3-for-4 showing with two RBI from Parker. Knoll and Bohr also had multi-hit games for UW-Platteville.

Senior Jordan Stanton suffered the loss in the game, after allowing two runs (one earned) across the final 3.2 innings. He allowed just four hits in relief, while striking out five.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers wrap up conference play next weekend with four games at UW-Stevens Point. Friday's games are set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., while Saturday will be at noon and 3 p.m.