This Week in Pioneer Athletics

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Three University of Wisconsin-Platteville athletic teams will compete this week, with baseball scheduled to play at home later in the week and over the weekend. Softball hits the road for six contests, while track and field travels to Iowa for the early stages of the outdoor season.

Baseball Set for Home Opener Thursday

The Pioneers baseball team looks to play their first home games of the season this week, starting with a non-conference contest against Edgewood at 4 p.m. on Thursday. UW-Platteville then welcomes in UW-Stevens Point on Saturday and Sunday for a pair of doubleheaders starting at noon both days.

Edgewood picked up a pair of wins over the weekend to improve to 8-9 on the season. The Eagles are lead offensively by Hayden Hellenbrand (.364 batting average) and Jacob Carney (.351 and a team-high 21 RBI).

UW-Stevens Point split a doubleheader with UW-River Falls on Friday and will wrap up the four-game series with the Falcons later Monday afternoon. The Pointers are 5-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play with Kamden Oliver (.476 batting average and 14 RBI) pacing the offense.

Softball to Play Three Non-Conference Doubleheaders

After winning their final five games in Florida this past week, the Pioneers softball team returns this week with a trio of road non-conference doubleheaders, starting with matchup Thursday at Loras (starting at 2 p.m.). UW-Platteville then travels to face Simpson on Saturday (1 p.m.) and Central (Iowa) (1 p.m.) on Sunday.

Loras bounced back following some early season struggles to sit at 14-8 overall on the year. The Duhawks are 10-3 across their past 13 games and posting a .323 team batting average. Ava Franklin (.411) and Kaili Henning (.404) are both hitting over .400 for Loras this season.

Simpson enters the week at 18-2 overall and are coming off three consecutive five-inning wins. Megan Heidelbauer has been a force for the Storm, batting .514 with seven home runs and 35 RBI. Her 1.060 slugging percentage is seventh-best in NCAA DIII.

Central has won three straight to improve to 9-3 on the season. Four Dutch starters are batting over .400 on the year, with Haley Bach (team-high 15 runs scored) and Rylee Dunkin (team-high 11 stolens bases) leading the way.

Track and Field Heads to Iowa for Outdoor Opener

The Pioneers track and field teams sent distance athletes to the WashU Distance Carnival this past weekend, and the rest of the team will begin the outdoor season on Saturday at the Mississippi River Rumble hosted by the University of Dubuque. Events will take place at the Douglas J. Miller Track in Dubuque.