Pioneers Split Friday Doubleheader Against UW-Stout

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team split a doubleheader against UW-Stout on Friday evening at Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wisconsin. After falling 2-1 in 10 innings in game one, an eight-run inning in game two sent the Pioneers to a 9-2 victory.

Game one featured a pitchers' duel between Pioneers sophomore Brady Hoppert and Drew Buss of UW-Stout. Hoppert scattered four hits while striking out six across seven innings while allowing just one unearned run on a passed ball. Buss kept UW-Platteville off the board for eight and a third innings until a sacrifice fly by junior Jake Wegner drove in sophomore Justin Fago to tie the game at one.

After retiring the Pioneers in order in the top half of the tenth, the Blue Devils won the game in the bottom of the tenth on a bases-loaded single.

Junior Josh Belgrave was charged with the loss but threw two and a third innings of relief work prior to the extra-innings run. At the plate, Fago and sophomore Slate Higa tied for the team lead with two hits as the Pioneers recorded seven total in the game.

Pitching dominated for much of game two as well, with freshman William Hough making his first start for UW-Platteville. Hough threw four and two thirds innings and allowed just one unearned run in the fifth inning. Junior Jordan Collins tied the game at one with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

The Pioneers offense broke through in the top of the ninth with eight runs to go ahead by a score of 9-1. The first run crossed the plate on an error and Fago drove in two with a single to right. Freshman Mason Molitor plated the fourth run of the inning with a base hit, and Fago came in to score on a passed ball to make it 6-1. Collins scored two more on a single to centerfield and Higa knocked in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Blue Devils scored once in the bottom of the ninth, but the Pioneers picked up the game two win 9-2.

Junior Parker Heidorf picked up the win after throwing the final 2.2 innings. The Pioneers totaled 10 hits as a team in the contest, with Fago collecting three. Collins finished with three RBI in the game, while Fago drove in two more. UW-Platteville was aggressive on the basepaths, stealing three bases.

The final two games of the series against UW-Stout will be tomorrow at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. from Whitewater.

*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.