Pioneers top MacMurray and Edgewood in Tucson
TUCSON, AZ – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team topped MacMurray College 12-1 and followed that up with another victory over Edgewood College 6-1 Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona.
TUCSON, AZ – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team topped MacMurray College 12-1 and followed that up with another victory over Edgewood College 6-1 Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona.
In game one, the Pioneers (4-8) topped the MacMurray (0-7) Highlanders 12-1 in five innings. MacMurray took the lead 1-0 after the first, but the Pioneers responded in strong fashion during the second inning when with two on base, Abby Burns doubled down left center to run in Rachel Bonnell and Shannon Gaul to take the lead. However, the inning was not over yet for UW-Platteville as Burns scored off a sac bunt followed by Haili Cota singling to left field to run Rachel Plautz in for a 4-1 lead Pioneers after four innings.
The Pioneers added two more in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 6-1.
Then in the top of the fifth, with two outs and bases loaded, pinch hitter Riley Kelsch singled to left center to run two in and was followed by Chaela West who singled up the middle for one RBI. Batting next after West was Andrea Edquist who doubled down the left line to run in two more to make it 11-1, Pioneers. An error by the Highlanders' right fielder would extend the scoreboard 12-1 and the Pioneers went on to win 12-1 in five innings.
Ashton Hoeppner (2-4) took the win and struck out five, walked one, and gave up two hits. MacMurray's Kiersten Hann (0-4) took the loss and struck out one, walked four, and gave up 12 hits with 10 earned runs against.
In game two, the Pioneers carried their momentum from game one to the match up against the Edgewood Eagles from nearby Madison, Wisconsin.
The Pioneers defeated the Eagles 6-1, but up until the top of the fifth, the game remained tied 0-0. With one out and bases loaded, Rachel Martin singled to left field to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead, but an out at third gave the Pioneers two outs with two on base. Shannon Gaul stepped up to the plate next and homered to left center for three RBI and the 4-1 lead. However, the Pioneers were not done and two batters later, Rachel Bonnell singled up the middle to run in Ellsa Versetto and the Pioneers concluded the inning 5-0.
The Eagles were able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when Grace Delleman tripled to center field and ran in teammate Sabrina Malcke, but the Pioneers would extend the lead once again when Cassandra Laabs singled to centerfield with two outs to run in Chaela West, extending the lead to 6-1 which would soon become final.
Abby Burns (2-3) is credited the win and struck out four, walked one, and gave up five hits before being relieved by Andra O'Brien who struck out two, gave up two hits, and one run in the game. Edgewood's Maddy Coppens (3-4) took the loss and walked three, gave up nine hits, and six runs with five earned and a homerun.
The Pioneers improve to 5-8 overall after Wednesday, and the Eagles fall to 4-6.
The Pioneers will conclude their 2019 spring trip to Tucson on Thursday with games scheduled against Augsburg and Huntington.