Pioneers split with UWO; playoff fate unknown
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Pioneers took the first game of a doubleheader with UW-Oshkosh Saturday afternoon to keep their WIAC playoff hopes alive.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wis.-Oshkosh
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
|
Wis.-Platteville
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 6 | 8 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wis.-Oshkosh
|
2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
|
Wis.-Platteville
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Pioneers took the first game of a doubleheader with UW-Oshkosh Saturday afternoon to keep their WIAC playoff hopes alive. UW-Platteville jumped on the Titans early at the Softball Complex and cruised to a 6-1 victory before dropping game two 7-3.
Shannon Gaul connected for a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the first to give the Pioneers a quick lead. In the second Abby Jaques added another run on a lineout to right field that scored pinch runner Danielle Dieckhoff.
Ashton Hoeppner gave up a triple to the second batter of the game, but followed by retiring 12 of the next 13 batters she faced. She finished with eight strikeouts and gave up just five hits to the Titans. It was Hoeppner's tenth time with eight or more strikeouts this season, and her fourth straight start with eight K's.
The Pioneers added three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The first four batters of the inning reached base, capped off with a two RBI double by Cayleen Ryan and an RBI single by Rachel Martin.
In game two, UW-Oshkosh scored twice in their half of the first inning and pushed their lead to 6-0 two innings later. UW-Platteville scored three times in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little too late for the Pioneers.
Jaques and Gaul each had three hits on the afternoon while Gaul, Martin, Ryan, and Abby Burns all had two RBI.
After the split UW-Platteville moves to 21-15 overall and 6-8 in the WIAC while UW-Oshkosh goes to 17-10, 4-4.
With all of their regular season games played, the Pioneers sit sixth in the WIAC. Only five teams make the conference tournament, but all seven other conference teams have games to play. The WIAC schedule wraps up on Tuesday with doubleheaders between Eau Claire and River Falls, and La Crosse and Oshkosh.
