Softball falls in season-opening doubleheader

FULTON, Mo. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team dropped its season-opening doubleheader to Fontbonne, 6-1 in game one and 15-11 in game two at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. 

The Griffins broke the scoreless game wide open in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs on three hits. Fontbonne added another run in the fourth and sixth, while the Pioneers got on the board in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by junior Lisa Karau. 

In game two, Karau blasted a two-run homer in the top of the first, but the Griffins took one back in the bottom half of the frame, 2-1. 

The Pioneers scored three more in the second on RBI singles from seniors Becca Lowe and Ellyn Goerdt. Fontbonne used a two-out rally in its half of the inning to score five runs on four hits. 

Sophomore Carley Rote started the third frame with a solo homer and another RBI single by Lowe gave the Pioneers the lead, 7-6. The Griffins used a pair of hits in the bottom of the third to tie the game, 7-7. 

The Pioneers retook the lead in the fourth on a RBI single by freshman Chelsey Walker, and then added on three more runs in the fifth frame, 11-7. A pair of errors helped the Griffins score six runs in the bottom of the fifth and then added two insurance runs in the sixth frame. 

The Pioneers ended the game with 16 hits and with six players with multiple hits. Junior transfer MJ Patten, Karau and Lowe each went 3-for-4 and Patten and Karau scored twice. Karau and Lowe also added two RBIs each.

UW-Platteville will look to earn its first win on Monday when the Pioneers take on Westminster College.