Pioneers battle weather to set personal best on the track
Platteville, Wis.- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s and women’s track programs held their second home meet of the outdoor season, hosting the Pioneer Invitational on April 10. Unlike the first meet, where Mother Nature was kind, the Pioneers competed in a steady rain for most of the day. The rain did not deter the Pioneers, as multiple student-athletes set personal bests.
Platteville, Wis.- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's and women's track programs held their second home meet of the outdoor season, hosting the Pioneer Invitational on April 10. Unlike the first meet, where Mother Nature was kind, the Pioneers competed in a steady rain for most of the day. The rain did not deter the Pioneers, as multiple student-athletes set personal bests.
Freshman Daniel Inyang set a personal best in the high jump, clearing 1.95 meters. Inyang, normally a sprinter, competed for just the second time in the high jump after picking up the skill a month ago.
Brianna Leahy threw the shot put 13.42 meters, setting a personal best. The distance is good for seventh best in the nation.
For a full recap of the Pioneer Invitational, visit the website.
The Pioneers will travel to Rock Island, Illinois, for the Augustana Meet of Champions on Saturday, April 17. The final home meet of the 2021 season will be Friday, April 30.
Golf finishes fourth at Marian University Invite
The Pioneer Women's golf team returned to action for the first time since the fall of 2019 at the Marian University Invite. The team finished fourth out of seven teams. Junior Markie Ash was the top finisher for the Pioneers and sixth overall with an 88.
The Pioneers return to the golf course with a two-day event at Riverside Golf Course in Janesville, Wisconsin, hosted by UW-Whitewater. First round begins Friday, April 16.
Softball opens up WIAC play with split
Week in review:
Weather forced the UW-Platteville (6-6, 1-1 WIAC) softball team to rearrange its schedule. The Pioneers postponed the opening WIAC games at UW-Oshkosh due to weather. The Pioneers and Titans split a pair of non-conference games on April 6.
With weather forecasting rain all day on Saturday, April 10, the Pioneers moved the game against UW-Stevens Point to Sunday, April 11. The Pioneers and Pointers split the WIAC conference doubleheader.
Week ahead:
The Pioneers will continue conference play this week when they travel to UW-Whitewater (10-4, 0-0 WIAC) on Wednesday, April 14 for a pair. Following the series with the Warhawks, the Pioneers will travel to UW-River Falls on Friday, April 16 for a pair of conference games. The Falcons will travel to Platteville on Sunday, April 18, for a pair of non-conference games.
Junior Angela Laabs is leading the Pioneers in hitting .400 with two doubles. Junior Rachel Plautz has played in all 12 games and is hitting .389 with four doubles and a triple.
Senior Abby Burns was the hot bat for the Pioneers the past week, going 7-for-15 (.467) in four games. She is hitting .381 on the year with four doubles and a home run. Senior Shannon Gaul leads the Pioneers with three home runs and tied with 12 RBIs. Sophomore Claire Bakkestuen also has 12 RBIs and two home runs.
Senior Ashton Hoeppner leads the Pioneers in the circle with a 2.83 ERA in 42 innings of work. She has a 3-3 record and recorded her first save of the season in game two vs. UW-Stevens Point.
Baseball schedule calls for six games
Week in review:
The Pioneers dropped four conference games to UW-La Crosse. The non-conference doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, April 10, was postponed to Tuesday, April 13.
April 6, vs. UW-La Crosse recap and photos.
April 9, vs. UW-La Crosse recap.
Week ahead:
The Pioneers (8-6, 4-4 WIAC) will finish the 2021 regular season series vs. UW-La Crosse (10-4, 5-3 WIAC) on Tuesday, April 13 with a pair of non-conference games. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
Following the UW-La Crosse doubleheader, the Pioneers will welcome UW-Whitewater (13-2, 7-1 WIAC) to Kendall Murray Field for a conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 14. The Pioneers will travel to UW-Whitewater on Saturday, April 17 for two more conference games and finish the regular season series with the Warhawks.
Junior Jonathan Kelso continues to pace the Pioneers at the plate. Kelso is hitting .521 (25-for-48) with 10 doubles, one triple and two home runs on the year. Kelso is second in the WIAC in hitting and leads the league in on base percentage (.657), hits (25), stolen bases (11), and doubles (10). Kelso has 35 career doubles, good for second place all-time at UW-Platteville. Freshman Grant Mullins leads the Pioneers and WIAC in triples (4) while batting .308 (16-for-52).
Freshman Sam Arnold comes into the week with a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings. Arnold is 1-0 on the season striking out 16. Junior Nate Jennings has appeared in six games, with a 3-1 record with one save while striking out 14 in 14 innings.
To follow all the Pioneer action this spring, visit www.Letsgopioneers.com for links for live stats, postgame recaps, and links for the contests that are live streamed.