Pioneers drop two at Loras

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team fell to Loras College, 9-6 and 7-6 in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday at Faber Clarke Field.

The Duhawks led off their half of the first inning with back-to-back hits, scoring the game's first run.

Loras used three hits in the third frame to score two more run, taking a 3-0 lead.

Freshman Chelsey Walker put the Pioneers on the board with a solo home run in the top of the fifth. The Duhawks answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.

The Pioneers managed to take one back in the sixth but gave up four in the bottom half of the inning, trailing 9-2.

UW-Platteville's deficit was too large to overcome in the seventh, but scored four runs in a valiant effort.

Junior MJ Patten recorded three of the Pioneers' nine hits. Freshman Jess Butzen suffered the loss and gave up 13 hits.

The Duhawks once again got on the board first in the second inning, scoring one run.

The Pioneers responded with two runs in the top of the third. Senior Ellyn Goerdt came through with a two-RBI single, scoring Patten and junior Lisa Karau.

Sophomore Carley Rote led off the fifth with a solo homer to left field. Goerdt then walked and scored on a RBI double from Walker, forcing the Duhawks to make a pitching change. A batter later, junior Katie Huss gave the Pioneers a 5-1 lead with a RBI single to center field.

The Duhawks cut the deficit to two runs, 5-3, in the bottom of the fifth.

The Pioneers started the sixth off with another solo homer, this time by Karau, 6-3.

Sophomore Keri Treml came in relief in the sixth and gave up three runs on two hits, as Loras knotted the game up at 6-6.

The Pioneers led the seventh off with a pair of ground outs before loading up the bases, but couldn't push the go-ahead run across.

Loras began their half of the seventh with a single, and then used a pinch runner to steal second. With no one out the Duhawks put the game-winning run 60-feet away from home with a sacrifice bunt. Alaina Rigdon delivered the walk-off single, 7-6.

Sophomore Cassie Roach only allowed four hits in five innings for the Pioneers. Treml took the loss and gave up four runs in 1.1 innings.

The Pioneers had their chances, as they left 12 runners on base, and had four players with multi-hit games.

UW-Platteville opens conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader against UW-Superior at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex at 12 p.m.