Softball shuts out Yellowjackets

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team blanked UW-Superior 8-0 in five innings in both games of Saturday's doubleheader at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex.

The pair of wins gives the Pioneers a 2-0 start in conference play, and move to 13-13 on the season.

The Pioneers didn't waste any time to get on the scoreboard, as junior Lisa Karau blasted two-run  homer in the bottom of the first.

Freshman Jess Butzen kept the Yellowjackets off balance all day, and gave up her only hit of the game in the third inning.

The Pioneers exploded for six runs in the bottom of fourth. UW-Platteville tallied seven consecutive hits in the inning, scoring five runs in that stretch. Freshman Chelsey Walker delivered a 2-RBI single to make it a 8-0 game and put the eight–run rule in effect.

Butzen fanned four in her one-hit, complete game shutout.

Karau went 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs, while MJ Patten also recorded two hits.

Butzen started the second game, and went on to hold the Yellowjackets to three hits in four innings.

Karau belted her second home run of the day in the third inning, giving the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

UW-Platteville added four more runs in the fourth, with Salazar starting the inning off with a single and scored two batters later on a wild pitch. Senior Becca Lowe produced a 2-RBI single and then scored on a RBI-single by Karau, to make it a 7-0 game.

Lowe then delivered her third RBI and fourth hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth to put the eight-run rule in effect, 8-0.

Salazar went 3-for-3 ,while Karau tallied a pair of hits in the second game.

The Pioneers host UW-Eau Claire for a pair of games on Sunday, starting at noon.