Pioneers go 1-3 at Augustana

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - In the their first games in nearly two weeks, the UW-Platteville softball team went 1-3 Saturday and Sunday in their games with Loras and Augustana.

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Abby Jaques was 7-13 at the plate in the Pioneers four games against Loras and Augustana, moving her to a .481 season batting average.
Abby Jaques was 7-13 at the plate in the Pioneers four games against Loras and Augustana, moving her to a .481 season batting average.
March 16, 2018

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - In the their first games in nearly two weeks, the UW-Platteville softball team went 1-3 Saturday and Sunday in their games with Loras and Augustana. The weekend close to having a different outcome as the Pioneers suffered two walk-off losses.

Loras – Game 1

UW-Platteville (4-4) started their second weekend of play strong against Loras (5-3), but the Duhawks rallied for four runs in the bottoms of the seventh for a walk-off 5-4 win. Cayleen Ryan broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth on a groundout, and Rachel Martin pushed the Pioneers' lead to 3-1 with an RBI single in the next at-bat. Ashton Hoeppner gave up just five hits and the lone run through six innings, but the Duhawks struck for four hits in the bottom of the seventh including the walk-off single by Hadalyn Anderson.

Augustana – Game 1

After surrendering three runs to Augustana (11-3) in the top of second inning, the Pioneers rallied for four runs of their own in the bottom of the next frame. Ryan got UW-Platteville on the board with a single that scored Haili Cota. Two batters later Jessy Tanel launched her third home run of the season giving the Pioneers a 4-3 advantage. In just the sixth game of the season the home run was UW-Platteville's eighth of the season, tying the number they hit in all of 2017.

The Vikings quickly put together a rally themselves that the Pioneers were unable to answer. Augustana plated five runs in the fourth and another four in the fifth to taking a commanding lead. The Pioneers were able to get another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Rachel Bonnell, but Augustana scored two more in the sixth to end the game an inning early at 14-5.

Loras – Game 2

Two days after giving up five runs to the Duhawks in game one, Hoeppner absolutely dominated Loras in her best start of the season.

Ryan gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second with a single that scored Abby Jaques and Bonnell. The two run cushion was plenty for the freshman Hoeppner who struck out nine Duhawks and held Loras hitless through six innings. Hannah Towns broke the no-hitter to lead off the seventh, but Hoeppner struck out the next two batters and induced a ground ball to complete the shutout and give UW-Platteville a 2-0 win.

Augustana – Game 2

In the second game against Augustana Abby Burns threw 7 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run, but the Pioneers gave up two unearned and were only able to score one of their own as they lost to the Vikings for the second time, 2-1.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the sixth, Martin drew a leadoff walk for the Pioneers. Danielle Dieckhoff pinch ran for Martin and scored on an Augustana error in the next at bat. With Crystal Rote advancing to second on the error UW-Platteville had an opportunity to take the lead on a Burns single, but Rote was thrown out at home to keep the score 1-1.

Heading into extra innings, the Pioneers were unable to score in the top of the eighth opening up an opportunity for the Vikings. Augustana was able to take advantage of the opportunity, scoring the winning run on a one out single by Haley Ruch.

UW-Platteville's games against Loras on Tuesday have been postponed to a date to be determined. The Pioneers start a five day road trip this Saturday that will have stops at Trine University, Defiance College, Anderson University, and Franklin College.