New player performs well as softball drops two to Kohawks

Written by: Jeremy Williamson, Sports Information Student Assistant

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After snapping an 11-game losing streak on Monday, the Pioneer softball team fell twice to the Kohawks of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday in a doubleheader, 6-2 and 8-2.

The bright spot of the day was freshman LaRissa O'Kimosh who, previous to Tuesday, only played in 16 of the 25 games this season. O'Kimosh led the team in RBIs for the day with two and went 1-3 with the opportunities presented to her at the plate.

Junior Carley Rote had a respectable performance going 2-5 on the day, to go with two walks.

In the first game it took the Pioneers until the final inning before they were able to earn their two runs, but it was too little too late, as the Kohawks had tacked on six runs over the previous six innings, ending the game after the top of the seventh.

Sophomore Jess Butzen earned the first loss, pitching six innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs, with four walks and four strikeouts.

UW-Platteville got off to a better start scoring two runs in the second inning of the second game, 2-0. Chelsey Walker took first off of catcher's interference and then a pitch hit Haley Salazar, advancing Walker to second. To load the bases, Crystal Rote was walked, followed by an O'Kimosh single that earned her second RBI of the day. With the bases still loaded, Kelsie Jo Enders struck out and Katie Huss was hit by a pitch, bringing in the second and final score of the game for the Pioneers. The Kohawks went on to score eight runs over the next four innings to earn the victory, 8-2. 

Keri Treml (3-6) pitched all six innings and gave up eight earned runs off of 12 Kohawk hits, with four walks and two strikeouts.

The Pioneers (9-19) return home to take on WIAC foe UW-La Crosse in a doubleheader on Thursday at the UW-Platteville softball complex.