Offensive Outburst Sends Pioneers To Saturday Split

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (7-14, 4-8 WIAC) wrapped up a four-game series against UW-Stout (10-6, 3-5 WIAC) on Saturday with a doubleheader. The Pioneers fell 6-5 in game one before the bats came alive in a 14-2 win in seven innings.

The Blue Devils scored twice in the first inning to take the early lead in game one, but the Pioneers evened the score at two with one run in the second on a passed ball and another in the third on an RBI groundout by sophomore Justin Fago. UW-Stout regained the lead in the bottom of the third on a double to center that scored one.

Sophomore Slate Higa gave UW-Platteville its first lead of the game in the fourth on a two RBI single to centerfield to make the score 4-3. In the seventh, Fago increased the lead to two with his fourth home run of the season, but the Blue Devils scored three times in the bottom half of the inning to pull ahead and win 6-5.

Sophomore Isaac Bixby threw six innings as the starter for the Pioneers, allowing three runs while striking out a season-high eight batters. Senior Sam Hernandez was hit with the loss after giving up the three runs in the seventh. At the plate, Fago and Higa each had two RBI with Higa and freshman Mason Molitor both tallying a pair of hits.

In game two, the Pioneers offense came out of the gate fast, scoring seven runs across the first two innings. Molitor drove in four runs in the early scoring spree, including a bases-clearing double in the second inning. Junior Hunter Hopkins plated two with an RBI single in the first and a sacrifice fly in the second, while Higa knocked in his third run of the day with a groundout in the opening frame.

The lead grew to 9-0 in the third as a run scored via a Blue Devils error and a single by Fago. UW-Stout scored one run in both the third and fifth innings to make it 9-2 but the Pioneers offense added three more in the sixth to increase the lead to 10. Two scored on an error following a single by junior Jordan Collins and junior Jake Wegner pushed Collins across wit ha two-out single to left.

UW-Platteville tacked on two more in the seventh on a single by Molitor and a bases loaded walk by Higa to win 14-2 in seven innings.

The Pioneers finished with 18 hits in the win, with six players recording multiple hits. Molitor went 4-for-5 in the game with five RBI and three runs scored, while Fago and senior Mitchell McLaughlin combined for five hits and eight runs scored. Collins and Hopkins each had three hits in the victory as well.

Senior Brandon Molldrem picked up the win after allowing two runs in five innings of work. Freshman Jordan Stanton pitched the final two innings of the game.

The Pioneers will play the next four games at home next weekend against UW-Eau Claire with doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. Both days games are scheduled for noon and 3 p.m.