Titans take two over Pioneers

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team dropped Wednesday's WIAC doubleheader to UW-Oshkosh, 4-1 and 14-7 at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex.

The twin bill started with three hitless innings. UWO's Katie Koepsel homered in the fourth for the first hit of the game, and then the Pioneers' junior Haley Salazar tied the game up with a one-out solo shot in the fifth.

The Pioneers gave UWO two extra outs in the sixth, and the Titans made UW-Platteville pay, scoring three runs in the sixth frame, 4-1.

UWO's Jill Vondrak gave up her second hit of the game in the sixth then shut the door in the seventh, to earn the complete game victory.

Freshman Jess Butzen suffered the loss, while only allowing one earned run and five hits.

Three miscues by the Pioneers to start the second game helped UWO take a 3-0 lead. The Titans then put up five more runs, 8-0, in the second inning, highlighted by back-to-back home runs.

Salazar drove in the Pioneers' first run in the third with a RBI single past the third baseman, 8-1.

The Titans answered with two runs in the top of the fourth, 10-1.

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Pioneers got back within striking distance. Freshman Chelsey Walker led the big inning off with a home run. Junior MJ Patten doubled down the left field line, and an error by the left fielder allowed sophomore Hannah Pease to score and put Patten on third. Junior Lisa Karau came up with a two-out RBI single to score Patten, 10-4. After a single by Salazar, sophomore Carley Rote belted a three-run shot, putting the Pioneers within three runs, 10-7.

Koepsel homered in the sixth and seventh inning to help put UWO up 14-7, and finished the day with four home runs.

The Pioneers got their bats going in the night cap, recording 17 hits, but left 10 runners on base.

Karau led the team with four hits, followed by Salazar's three hits.

Sophomore Cassie Roach took the loss, while only getting through 1.1 innings, and gave up  six hits and six runs (four earned).

The Pioneers will close their home slate on Saturday when they host UW-Whitewater at 1 p.m.