Pioneer Baseball - 2001 Season Review
Posted 5/17/01Larsen, Schultz are all-WIAC
UW-Platteville seniors Wes Larsen and Quinn Schultz earned honorable mention all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball honors.
Larsen, from Arena (River Valley High School), earned all-conference accolades for the second consecutive year. He hit .326 with 16 runs batted in during the year. He also led the team with four multiple RBI games, including one contest where he drove in four runs. Larsen made the successful transition from third base to right field this season.
Schultz, from Muscoda (Riverdale High School), also switched positions this year and with equally successful results. He came in from the outfield to man second base, where he made 46 putouts and 63 assists with just three errors. Schultz hit .372 this season, collecting three hits in a game four times and four hits once.
Posted 5/04/01Pioneers sweep Superior
UW-Platteville completed its baseball season in fine fashion Saturday, sweeping UW-Superior 6-3 and 13-3.
The Pioneers combined two solid pitching outings, 30 hits and nearly flawless fielding in the doubleheader, played at the University of Minnesota-Duluth's Bulldog park.
Mike Finnegan went the distance in the opener, pitching eight shutout innings. Chance Schmid doubled to the right-field wall in the second inning, scoring Ryan Levondoski, who had singled. The Pioneers added one in the seventh and two each in the eighth and ninth. Brad Busler led a 13-hit attack with three hits, while Quinn Schultz, Jason Cleland, Wes Larsen and Schmid had two apiece.
The Pioneers jumped out with a 4-0 first-inning lead in game two. Kurt Tardy's two-run single was the big blow in the inning. Busler hit a home run over the left-field fence in the fourth, then doubled home another in the fifth and scored on a wild pitch. Chris Olson's three-run double highlighted six-run eighth inning.
All those runs were more than enough for Kris Agnew. He pulled a muscle in pre-game warmups, but was able to put the pain behind him and pitch shutout ball for seven innings. Agnew finished with a five-hitter in eight frames. Chris Wilkins pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
Busler was again 3x5, and Larsen had a trio of hits as well. Schultz, Olson, Tardy and Cleland each had two hits. Schultz finished the four-game weekend series with 11 hits.
The Pioneers conclude the 2001 campaign with a 13-17 overall record and 3-10 mark in the WIAC.
Game One Boxscore Game TwoBoxscorePosted 5/03/01
Baseball loses wild pair of games
UW-Platteville came up just a bit short in a pair of wild baseball slugfests Friday in Menomonie. Host UW-Stout beat the Pioneers 15-10 and 20-15.
The two teams combined for an incredible 78 hits in the twinbill. The Pioneers had 23 alone in the second game, including four each by Brad Busler, Quinn Schultz, Chris Olson and Wes Larsen. Ryan Levendoski added three hits, including a three-run home run.
Schultz also paced a 14-hit attack in the opener, giving him seven hits on the afternoon.
Stout Game One Boxscore Stout Game Two Boxscore UW-Superior homepage for Saturday's Gamesposted 5/1/01
Agnew pitches Pioneers to split
Kris Agnew struck out 12 batters, leading UW-Platteville to a 6-2 baseball victory and a split at Beloit College Tuesday.
The host Buccaneers pounded out 17 hits in an 18-2 opening victory.
Agnew improved his record to 2-1 and has now struck out 28 batters in 16.2 innings of work. He received offensive support from Quinn Schultz, with three hits, and Chris Olson and Ray Lauersdorf with two apiece. Mark Schwarz had a pair of RBIs.
The opening-game highlights were provided by Olson, who homered in the first inning, and Lauersdorf, who had two hits.
UWP is now 11-15 on the year, while the Buccaneers are 9-23.
The Pioneers close their season this weekend with WIAC doubleheaders at UW-Stout Friday at 1 p.m. and UW-Superior Saturday at noon.
Game One Boxscore Game Two Boxscoreposted 4/27/01
Pointers sweep Pioneers
The big hit eluded UW-Platteville Saturday, as the Pioneers dropped a home baseball doubleheader to UW-Stevens Point 8-6 and 12-2.
A day after getting just one run on nine hits at UW-Oshkosh, the Pioneers stranded 12 more runners in the twinbill. UWP banged out 11 hits in the opener, including three by Chance Schmid and two by Wes Larsen. The Pioneers rallied to cut an 8-2 lead into an 8-6 score with a four-run sixth inning, but could not push the tying runs home in the final three innings.
Matt Hoff's two hits paced the Pioneer attack in the second game.
The Pointers improved to 24-9 overall and 7-3 in the WIAC, while the Pioneers fell to 10-14, 1-7.
UW-Platteville plays at Beloit College Tuesday at 2 p.m. then concludes its season with a trip to UW-Stout and UW-Superior next weekend. The Pioneers will not make up Friday's second game with UW-Oshkosh unless it has a bearing on the conference playoff race, the WIAC offices said Saturday. The second game was postponed after a meningitis case was reported by a UWO faculty member, and the campus was evacuated.
Game One Boxscore Game Two Boxscoreposted 4/27/01
Pioneers lose to Titans, virus
During UW-Platteville's long baseball history, games have been postponed by rain, an occasional snow and even a bus breaking down. Friday, however, may have marked a first.
The Pioneers' scheduled second game at UW-Oshkosh was cancelled after a meningitis case was reported on the UWO campus. UW-Oshkosh officials took precautionary measures and evacuated campus, which meant the Pioneers got on the bus and returned to Platteville. (UWP Athletic Director Mark Molesworth said Saturday's UWP home doubleheader with UW-Stevens Point will take place as scheduled.)
The league-leading Titans won the first game 7-1, improving to 7-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 24-4 overall . The Pioneers fell to 1-6, 10-12.
The Pioneers' only run came in the sixth inning, when Wes Larsen doubled and came home on Chris Olson's single.
Larsen and his six senior teammates will be saluted between games of Saturday's doubleheader, which begins at noon.
Game One Boxscoreposted 4/21/01
Hahn pitches UWP past Falcons
UW-Platteville's Justin Hahn is an academic all-conference pitcher who majors in physical education. Saturday, he showed he knows a little about economics, too.
Hahn threw just 82 pitches--62 of them for strikes--over nine innings to lead the Pioneers past UW-River Falls 3-1. The economical outing took just 1:48 to play and gave the Pioneers a split of the doubleheader. The Falcons won the opener 12-4.
The Pioneers scored all their runs in the fourth inning. Matt Hoff and Quinn Schultz singled to open the inning. After Chris Olson's fielder's choice forced Schultz out, Jason Cleland singled to score Hoff and move Olson to third. Wes Larsen then followed with a towering blast to center that hit the wall and scored both Olson and Cleland.
Those three runs were move than enough for Hahn. The Cuba City native baffled the Falcons with his curve ball. The lefty scattered eight hits and stranded five runners. Hoff, Cleland and Larsen each had two hits for the Pioneers, who improved to 10-11 overall, 1-5 in the WIAC. UW-River Falls ended the day 13-10, 3-3.
In the opener, the Pioneers almost matched the Falcons hit for hit, but could not get the key blow with runners on base. The Pioneers had 14 hits (to the Falcons' 15), but left 11 runners on base. Brad Busler had three hits in the opener, and several spectacular plays in the field all afternoon long. Hoff, Larsen, Mark Schwarz and Ray Lauersdorf each had two singles in game number one.
The Pioneers play at UW-Oshkosh Friday, then have their last scheduled home doubleheader Saturday vs. UW-Stevens Point at noon.
Game One Boxscore Game Two Boxscoreposted 4/20/01
Eagles sweep Pioneers
UW-La Crosse slugged out 35 hits and beat UW-Platteville 15-1 and 13-3 in conference baseball action Friday at Kendall Murray Field.
The Pioneers knocked out 18 hits, but stranded 17 runners during the course of the afternoon. Matt Hoff had a pair of hits in the first game, while Quinn Schultz and Ray Lauersdorf had two each in the second contest.
UW-La Crosse improved to 9-8-1 overall and 3-1 in the WIAC, while the Pioneers fell to 9-10, 0-4.
The Pioneers are right back on the field Saturday at noon to face UW-River Falls. The Falcons split with UW-Whitewater Friday, winning game one 13-5 and losing game two 16-4.
Game One Boxscore Game Two Boxscoreposted 4/18/01
Pioneers split with Mounties
The UW-Platteville baseball team brought out sharp-looking new orange hats in Wednesday's doubleheader with Mount St. Clare. Trouble was, they didn't bust out the hitting shoes until the second game.
After the Pioneers were stymied by the Mounties' Gary Wolke and his unorthodox delivery in a 4-1 opening loss, the Pioneers knocked out nine hits to win the nightcap 5-3.
Chris Olson hit a two-run in the third inning of the second game, giving the Pioneers a 3-2 lead, and they added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Jason Weiker earned the win on the mound, improving to 2-0, while Matt Hoff notched his second save. Hoff also had a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a triple, after which he scored on a Dave Kerrigan single.
Kerrigan and Olson each had two hits for the Pioneers, who are now 9-8 overall.
UWP has 36 innings of WIAC baseball at Kendall Murray Field this weekend. UW-La Crosse comes to town Friday for two nine-inning games, beginning at 1 p.m. On Saturday, it's UW-River Falls' turn for a conference twinbill, beginning at noon.
Game One Boxscore Game Two Boxscoreposted 4/14/01
Warhawk rally stuns Pioneers
Down to the last strike,UW-Whitewater rallied for three runs and stunned host UW-Platteville 4-2 in the second game on a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday.
The 23rd-ranked Warhawks also won the opener, 4-1.
The Pioneers appeared on their way to attaining a split behind a masterful pitching performance by Mike Finnegan. After giving up a run in the first, the sophomore right-hander pitched seven straight scoreless innings. He struck out the last two batters in the eighth, and got two quick pop ups in the ninth. UWW pinch-hitter Brian Adamczyk, with two strikes against him, barely kept alive by just getting a piece of the ball. The problem was, the ball dribbled fair down the third-base line, and Adamczyk just beat the throw to first. He then stole second, and Ryan Zelhofer singled to left, scoring the runner and snatching the win from Finnegan and the Pioneers. Gus Maves and Joe Shere followed with run-scoring singles, making the score 4-2. Dave Kerrigan was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the ninth, but that was the only runner in that frame for the Pioneers.
UW-Whitewater improved to 18-4 overall and 2-0 in the WIAC, while the Pioneers fell to 8-7, 0-2.
Quinn Schultz had three hits for the Pioneers, while Brad Busler collected a pair. Both players doubled, as did Kris Agnew, who had a run-scoring two-bagger in the second inning for a 2-1 UWP lead.
In the opener, the Pioneers managed just three hits. Joe Lobenstein threw the first five innings, while Josh Conley tossed four scoreless innings.
The Pioneers play at Viterbo University in La Crosse Monday at 1 p.m. They then have a three-date home stand, playing Mt. St. Clare Wednesday, UW-La Crosse Friday and UW-River Falls Saturday. All doubleheaders begin at 1 p.m.
Game One Boxscore Game Two Boxscoreposted 4/12/01
Pioneers, Warhawks to clash Saturday
The Game: UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater begin the 2001 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competition Saturday at 1 p.m. at the renovated Kendall Murray Field.
The Records: The Pioneers are 8-5 on the year. The Warhawks were 14-4 record heading into Friday'ss scheduled twinbill vs. Lawrence.
The Pioneers: UW-Platteville has won three of its last four games to go three games above .500 for the first time in six years.
While the Pioneers are a senior-laden team, a junior and a sophomore are the top regular batters so far. Sophomore Kurt Tardy is batting .423, while junior Dave Kerrigan is hitting at a .385 clip. As a team, the Pioneers are batting .300.
Pitching has been a strength for the team, as senior Kris Agnew (1-0, 0.00 ERA), junior Joe Lobenstein (2-1, 1.83 ERA) and sophomore Mike Finnegan (2-2, 2.78 ERA) lead an experienced staff. Finnegan is coming off a four-hit, complete-game win over Coe Sunday, while Lobenstein's last outing was a five-hit victory at Loras March 23. Agnew struck out 11 in six innings in his Florida start.
The Warhawks: UW-Whitewater stole a school-record 133 bases on its way to a three-way share of the 2000 WIAC title and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Warhawks are racing off to a similar start in 2001, going 48-58 in stolen bases during their first 18 games while achieving a #23 ranking nationwide in third in the Midwest Region.
Most of the last year's top base thieves, and the heart of the offense that pushed those runners home, are back this season. Second baseman Gus Maves (.413 this year), shortstop Ryan Zelhofer (.452), and third baseman Joe Shere (.483) are back. Maves was a First Team NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region and All-WIAC First Team pick, Zelhofer was first team all-league and second team all-region, and Shere earned third team all-region honors.
Catcher Jason Ondricka (.282) and outfielder Travis Van Zile (.239) anchor their positions again this season. Van Zile was named to both the All-WIAC and all-region teams. Ondricka will be counted on to guide a pitching staff that lost a couple of key performers. Stepping in are Nathan Karaway (3-1), Ryan Callahan (4-0) and Brady Endle (4-0).
Up Next: The Pioneers play at Viterbo University in La Crosse Monday at 1 p.m. They then have a three-date home stand, playing Mt. St. Clare Wednesday, UW-La Crosse Friday and UW-River Falls next Saturday. All doubleheaders begin at 1 p.m.
posted 4/8/01Finnegan pitches UWP past Coe
Mike Finnegan allowed just four hits over seven innings, pitching UW-Platteville past Coe 4-2 in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday.
The Kohawks won the opener 10-2 at the renovated Kendall Murray Field, which features a new playing surface, new dugouts and a new press box.
Finnegan made himself right at home on the new mound. He improved to 2-2 with the complete-game win, striking out five with just one walk.
The Pioneers gave Finnegan a 1-0, when Wes Larsen singled home Dave Kerrigan, who led off the bottom of the first with a single. After the Kohawks (10-10) tied the score, the Pioneers took the lead for good in the fourth when Quinn Schultz singled and eventually scored on an error.
Ray Lauersdorf and Chris Olson singled in the fifth, and Larsen's sacrifice fly scored Lauersdorf. Matt Hoff added another run in the sixth when he tripled, then trotted home when the throw got past the Coe third baseman.
Lauersdorf and Hoff each had two hits in the second game. The Pioneers were held to three hits in the opener.
UW-Platteville, now 8-5, plays a makeup doubleheader at the University of Dubuque Monday at 1 p.m., then plays host to UW-Whitewater Saturday at noon in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.
Game One Boxscore Game Two Boxscoreposted 3/25/01
Saturday, Sunday games cancelled
The Saturday and Sunday portions of the Dubuque City Classic were cancelled due to the cold weather and northern winds.
UW-Platteville went 2-0 in the tournament, beating Loras 7-5 and 2-1 Friday. The University of Dubuque was also 2-0 after sweeping Edgewood, and Viterbo was 1-0 after beating Clarke. The second game was postponed because the scheduled doubleheader followed the Pioneers' games Friday at Petrakis Park.
The 7-4 Pioneers are scheduled to make their home debut at the renovated Kendall Murray Field April 8 vs. Coe College.
posted 3/23/01Pioneers sweep Duhawks
Wes Larsen hit a tie-breaking home run in the fourth inning, and Mike Finnegan threw a complete-game five-hitter, leading UW-Platteville to a 2-1 victory at Loras, completing a sweep of the Duhawks Friday.
The Pioneers won game one 7-5 in the opening round of the Dubuque Classic. UWP plays two games at the University of Dubuque Saturday and two at Clarke College Sunday. Both twinbills begin at 1 p.m.
Finnegan helped the defending Classic champions to the opening sweep by holding the Duhawks scoreless for the final six innings. The Pioneers tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first when Dave Kerrigan was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on an error. The game remained tied until the fourth, when Larsen hit a towering shot that cleared the right-center fence at Petrakis Field.
With the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Finnegan fielded a come-backer to the mound, and he, catcher Ryan Levondoski and first baseman Jason Cleland completed the 1-2-3 double play to end the game.
The Pioneers received another strong pitching performance in game one, as Joe Lobenstein scattered four hits and two runs over six innings, striking out seven Duhawk batters. The Pioneers put together four hits, a walk and a Loras error in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Cleland hit an RBI single, and Dave kerrigan's double scored two in the inning. Cleland led the offensive charge with three hits in the opener, while Matt Hoff had two hits in the second game.
Game One Boxscore Game Two Boxscoreposted 3/22/01
Pioneers to play at Loras Friday
The UW-Platteville baseball team will make its northern debut Friday, March 23 vs. Loras College at Dubuque's Petrakis Field.
The Pioneers face the Duhawks at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader in the first round of the Dubuque Classic. UWP, which takes a 5-4 record into the tournament, plays at the University of Dubuque Saturday at 1 p.m. and against Clarke Sunday at a site to be determined. (Please note: early schedules had this tournament set for March 30-April 1). UW-Platteville is coming off a successful Florida trip, during which the team compiled a 5-4 record.
posted 3/15/01Winning streak stopped at four games
Rutgers-Camden exploded for six runs in the top of the first inning and went on to beat UW-Platteville 7-1 in baseball action Thursday at Fort Pierce, Fla. The Pioneers had their four-game winning streak stopped and are now 5-2 on their southern trip.
Chris Wilkens provided UWP's highlight . He came on in the top of the first and pitched the rest of the game. He allowed just one run and struck out five over the final 6 1/3 innings. The Pioneer offense was held to six hits during the contest.
The Pioneers conclude the trip tomorrow (Friday) with games against Delaware Valley and Nyack (N.Y.).
posted 3/14/01Pioneers continue hot trip with 2 wins
UW-Platteville continued its hot Florida trip with another pair of baseball victories Wednesday.
The Pioneers beat American International, an NCAA Division II school, 11-4, and Blackburn, a team which returned six starters from last year's 24-17 club, 8-7. The Pioneers are now 5-1 on the young season.
UWP knocked three American International pitchers around for 15 hits. Catcher Kurt Tardy had four of those hits and drove in three runs. Wes larsen, Chris Olson and Jason Cleland all had a pair of hits to back the pitching of Chance Schmid, who earned the win in relief.
Justin Hahn was the victorious pitcher in the nightcap, yielding three earned runs in six innings. Matt Hoff had three hits, while Mark Schwarz and Quinn Schultz had two apiece.
The Pioneers face Rutgers-Camden in a single game Thursday, then close their trip with two games Friday.
posted 3/14/01Agnew throws one-hitter
It's amazing how much better it is to pitch when your arm is not sore.
Kris Agnew discovered that Tuesday, and a result was a 3-0 UW-Platteville baseball victory over Geneva (Pa.) College during the Pioneers' spring trip in Fort Pierce, Fla.
Agnew led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in strikeouts as a sophomore in 1999, but was limited to 16 innings last year due to arm problems. Tuesday was his first test of the year to see how his arm would fare in competition.
Mission accomplished.
Agnew struck out 11 Geneva hitters and yielded just one hit through six innings, leading the Pioneers to their third win in four Florida games. Matt Hoff, another hurler who was sidelined for most of 2000, pitched a scoreless seventh inning to record the save.
Jason Cleland and Kurt Tardy both collected two hits for the Pioneers, while Mark Schwartz banged out a double.
The 3-1 Pioneers play American International (Mass.) at noon today, followed by Blackburn, Ill. at 3 p.m.
posted 3/13/01Pioneers pound Scranton, 16-9
UW-Platteville banged out 18 hits and beat Scranton 16-9 in Fort Pierce, Fla. Tuesday morning.
The Pioneers (2-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and scored in all six innings. Quinn Schultz and Dave Kerrigan each had three hits, while Matt Hoff, Wes Larsen, Jason Cleland and Ryan Levondoski had two apiece. Chance Schmid also cleared the bases with a three-run double.
Larsen extended his hitting streak to 25 games, second longest in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history.
Jason Weiker threw the first five innings to earn the win. He left with a 16-4 advantage. After Scranton rallied to cut the lead to 16-9, Aaron Hooks came in and struck out the final batter with two men on base.
The Pioneers play Geneva tonight at 8 p.m., then face American International (Mass.) and Blackburn (Ill.) Wednesday.
posted 3/12/01Pioneers split with St. Scholastica
Joe Lobenstein pitched a complete-game shutout, and Dave Kerrigan singled home two runs in the fifth inning, leading UW-Platteville to a 2-0 season-opening baseball victory over St. Scholastica Monday in Fort Pierce, Fla.
Nationally-ranked St. Scholastica came back to take the second game 10-0.
Lobenstein, a junior transfer from Madison Area Technical College and the younger brother of former UWP pitcher David, struck out seven in the opener. The game also made a successful head coaching debut for Kevin Bowers.
The Pioneers return to action Tuesday with games against Pennsylvania schools Scranton (9 a.m.) and Geneva (8 p.m.)