Pioneers Dealt Two Losses To Pointers Saturday
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (8-15, 4-8 WIAC) fell by scores of 10-8 and 11-8 to UW-Stevens Point (17-9, 9-5 WIAC) in a road doubleheader on Saturday afternoon from Zimmerman Field in Stevens Point.
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (8-15, 4-8 WIAC) fell by scores of 10-8 and 11-8 to UW-Stevens Point (17-9, 9-5 WIAC) in a road doubleheader on Saturday afternoon from Zimmerman Field in Stevens Point.
Game One
UW-Stevens Point struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Pioneers were able to answer with three in the top half of the fourth to tie the game. Sophomore Caleb Parker scored UW-Platteville's first run on a passed ball before senior Mitchell Pomeroy delivered a two-run home run down the left field line to knot the game at three.
The Pointers regained the lead quickly, scoring three in the bottom of the fourth and three more runs over the next couple innings to take a 9-3 advantage. UW-Platteville was able to cut that deficit down to one with a five-run eighth inning, with four of the runs coming with two outs. Parker's sacrifice fly scored the first run, and junior Justin Fago came in to score on a wild pitch. Sophomore Mason Molitor brought home another with a single and junior Brady Katterhagen capped the scoring with a two-run home run to centerfield.
UW-Stevens Point scored one in the bottom of the eighth inning to increase the lead to two and the Pioneers went down scoreless in the ninth as the Pointers won 10-8.
UW-Platteville totaled 12 hits in the game, with four extra-base hits. Mason Molitor finished with a team-high three hits and two runs, while Parker and senior Wyatt Molitor each had a pair of hits.
Senior Jake Schneider was charged with the loss after giving up four runs across 3.2 innings of relief work. Junior Conner Paulson threw the final 3.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned).
Game Two
The Pointers started strong, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning to jump in front. UW-Platteville got one back in the second on an RBI single by sophomore Ian Merry, but UW-Stevens Point added three more in the bottom half of the inning to lead 8-1.
After the Pointers scored another in the fourth, the Pioneers got a home run from senior Hunter Hopkins to cut the deficit down to 9-2. UW-Platteville's offense found some more success in the seventh, scoring six runs to get back within one. Fago singled to score the first run, and junior Grant Bossert brought home the second run of the frame with a single up the middle. Hopkins knocked in another with a single and senior Jake Wegner brought in a run with an RBI groundout. Mason Molitor connected on his second run on the day to make it 9-8.
UW-Stevens Point increased the lead back to three with two runs in the eighth and held the Pioneers off the board to sweep the doubleheader with an 11-8 win.
Fago paced the team with three hits as the Pioneers totaled 10 hits as team in the contest. Hopkins entered the game as a pinch-hitter and finished 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored.
Junior Brady Hoppert was dealt the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) across 1.1 innings. Freshman Isaac Then threw the final 6.2 innings and held the Pointers to three runs while striking out seven.
Up Next
The Pioneers will wrap up the series against UW-Stevens Point tomorrow with a doubleheader scheduled for noon and 3 p.m.