Pioneers Complete the Blugold Sweep

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team took two more games from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Saturday by scores of 16-6 in the opener and 14-0 in the nightcap. The doubleheader at Kendall Murray Field completes the eight-game sweep of the Blugolds and improves the Pioneers to 14-12 and 8-8 in the WIAC while Eau Claire falls to 4-20 and 4-12 in the league. In all, the Pioneers hammered out 28 hits, 30 runs and 19 RBIs across the doubleheader.

Jonathan Kelso (Jr./Villa Park, Ill.) entered the day leading the WIAC with 42 hits on the season and added four more hits going 4-7 on the day including a double in game two. Austin Pullara (Fr./Morris, Ill.) continue success at the plate following six hits on Friday and added three more hits going 3-5 while driving in three runs across two games.

Game 1

Well acquainted after six meetings this season, both teams were quick to reach the scoreboard in the opener. The Blugolds put three on the board in the first frame with two unearned to take an early 3-0 lead. The first two Pioneers got on based due to a hit by pitch and base on balls followed by Jason Adams (So./Burlington, Wis.) loading bases with a single to right field. Eau Claire walked in UW-Platteville's first run of the day to cut its own lead by one run. The Blugold battery couldn't catch a break and a wild pitch opened the door for Kelso to sneak home and trim UW-Eau Claire's lead to just one. Another walk and passed ball turned the tides and gave the Pioneers a 4-3 lead before the first out.  UW-Platteville added four more runs off a single, error, wild pitch and sacrifice fly before Eau Claire could finally get out of the bottom of the first frame.

UW-Platteville dished out another dominate inning in the 3^rd starting with a one run double to right field from Hunter Hopkins (Fr./Winnebago, Ill.). Kelso singled to right field, but it was the error by the right fielder that opened the gate for Hopkins and Anders Lind (Fr./St. Paul, Minn.) to score just before Jason Wegner (Fr./Reedsburg, Wis.) scored on a wild pitch. Kelso eventually scored off a fielder's choice for the fifth run and 14-5 lead.

The game came to a close in the bottom of the 8^th inning as Kelso scored off a wild pitch for the second time in the opener to give UW-Platteville a 16-6 lead for the 10-run rule and win.

Logan Black (Fr./Ceresco, Neb.)  (1-1) recorded his first career win and struck out one, walked one, and scattered five hits across the five innings pitched.

Game 2

Just one game away from an eight-game sweep over UW-Eau Claire in the 2021 regular season, UW-Platteville carried a narrow 1-0 lead through 3.5 innings. The Pioneers' one run in the 1^st inning was thanks to an overthrow from the catcher attempting for the out, but Wegner stole third and ran home off the throwing error.

Zach Lieb (So./Pearl City, Ill.) (1-0) had a hot start and carried a no-hitter into the 5^th inning. The Pioneers  bought more than a little insurance in the 4^th inning which started with a one run single by Pullara. Two more runs scored off two singles and Andrew Zakula (So./Oak Creek, Wis.) added another run thanks to another wild pitch. On what should have been the final out, Wegner reached first on a wild pitch strike out, scoring one run. Kelso brought in the sixth and final run of the inning off a double down the left line.

UW-Platteville added four runs in the 5^th inning off a walk, passed ball and two sacrifice flyouts to extend the lead to 11-0. The final three runs scored in the 6^th inning courtesy of two singles up the middle and an error. Leading 14-0 going into the 7^th inning, UW-Platteville retired the fourth Blugold up to the plate for the final out and second run-rule win of the day.

Lieb struck out seven and walked four while giving up just one hit in the five innings pitched for the Pioneer's first career win.

UW-Platteville will return to action and Kendall Murray Field on Wednesday, April 28 when UW-Oshkosh rolls into town for a WIAC doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.