Pioneers Drop Two to UW-Stout

With the game tied at two, UW-Stout scored three times in the fifth for a 5-2 win over the Pioneers.

UW-Stout (11-10, 1-0 WIAC) went ahead in the bottom of the first on a two-RBI single by Sweet. With a 2-0 deficit, in the third, the Pioneers cut the deficit to one when Ashlen Folkers doubled down the left-field line to score Colleen Lowe, who had doubled to the gap in left field to start the inning.

The Pioneers tied it in the top of the fifth when Jordan Johnson singled to start the inning. Then, pinch runner Audrey Gronen advanced to third when the Blue Devils misplayed a Kayla Gosdeck sacrifice bunt to put runners on the corners. Then, Folkers drove in her second run of the game on a sacrifice fly, scoring Gronen from third.

With the game tied, the Blue Devils came back with three in its half of the fifth inning. They started the inning with a pair of RBI singles by Courtney Richardson and Alison Gray to stretch the lead to 4-2 and added a fifth run in the game and third of the inning when Sammy Peterson scored during a rundown by the Pioneers.

Richardson, Peterson and Erin Moss each had two hits to lead the Blue Devils, who out hit the Pioneers by an 8 to 7 margin. Jordan Johnson had two hits in the loss for UW-Platteville.

UW-Platteville starter Jeni Freiburger fell to 5-5 on the season, giving up eight hits, five runs – four earned and struck out three in the loss. UW-Stout starter Tara Kimberly pitched five innings, scattering five hits and struck out five to raise her record to 4-3 and Laura Vanderhoof pitched the final two innings, scattering two hits for her first save of the season.

In the nightcap, UW-Stout scored twice in the bottom of the sixth for a 3-1 win over UW-Platteville.

The Blue Devils (12-10, 2-0 WIAC) scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second for an early 1-0 lead. However, the Pioneers came back to tie it in fifth on a RBI single by Chantal McReynolds. Earlier in the inning, Colleen Lowe hit her second double of the day and pinch hitter Jesse Mergen walked to put runners on first and second for McReynolds. The senior drove in Lowe with a single to left center to tie the contest at 1.

In the top of the sixth, the Pioneers stranded the bases loaded and the Blue Devils scored twice in the bottom half of the inning for the win. To start the inning, Alison Gray reached on an infield single. She stole second and later came in to score on a RBI single by Courtney Richardson. Then, they added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly to score Richardson.

Pioneer starting pitcher Melissa Anderson went the distance, scattering five hits and striking out one in the loss to fall to 7-5. UW-Stout starting pitcher Laura Vanderhoof went the distance, as well, scattering six hits and striking out three to raise her record to 8-5.

Next, the Pioneers will travel to UW-La Crosse on Thursday, Apr. 12 for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.