Pioneers take one of two over North Central

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team earned a split against North Central (Ill.) in the final two games of a three-game series on Saturday at Lenz Field in Jacksonville, Ill.. The Pioneers won the night cap 4-3 in nine innings and let the first game slip past them 11-4 in seven innings.

GAME ONE: North Central 11 – UW-Platteville 4 

The Cardinals struck first scoring four runs in the opening inning. The Pioneers fell into some misfortune with two outs and the field-turf still slick from the rain that came down all morning. first baseman Jon Lewerke and Casey Schroeder both slipped while trying to make the third out which allowed a run to score, 2-0. The slick field-turf struck again two batters later when Evan Greco slipped trying to get a well hit but catchable fly ball which turned into a triple and letting NCC take a 4-0 lead. 

The Pioneers loaded up the bases in the top of the fourth on three walks, and senior Tyler Jacobson took advantage of the opportunity blooping a single into right field cutting the Pioneers' deficit to 4-2.

The Pioneers' Shane Murphy ended his afternoon with two walks in the fourth and finished the day with six earned runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. Freshman Shane Sosinsky came in relief and gave up a three-run home run to the first batter he faced, 7-2. 

The Pioneers bounced back in the fifth cutting NCC's lead to 7-4 when senior Topher Scheeler blasted a two-RBI double scoring Ryan Duva and Schroeder. 

The Cardinals scored four runs in the sixth and putting the game away, 11-4.

Lewerke tallied two of the Pioneers four hits. NCC recorded 10 hits with Kevin Hennessy and John Ciolkosz going 3-for-3. 

NCC's Kris Singh earned the win going 4.2 innings with four runs, four hits and five walks. 

GAME TWO: North Central 3 – UW-Platteville 4 

The Pioneers finally earned its first lead over the Cardinals in the third inning. Duva ripped a one-out triple to left center and scored on a throwing error by the shortstop two batters later. 

The Cardinals used four hits in the top of the fourth to score two runs and take a 2-1 lead. 

Schroeder started the Pioneers' comeback with a one-out single to left field in the eighth. Jester earned a walk and advanced to second on a balk. Scheeler loaded up the bases with a walk of his own and Lewerke tied the game up at 2-2 by getting hit by a 2-2 pitch. Sophomore Bobby Bean gave UW-Platteville a 3-2 lead on a sacrifice fly to left field. Freshman Ryan Lehmann recorded his first career hit which scored Scheeler but Lewerke was thrown out at third ending the inning.

North Central's Zac Pacanowski started the ninth with a triple to center field and scored on a Frank Sutphin ground out to second. Junior Tyler Nelson sealed the Pioneer victory by striking out Sam Klein looking on a 3-2 count.

Nelson earned the win and threw two relief innings allowing two hits and a run. Sophomore newcomer Mike Boushley made his first start in the Orange and Blue and only allowed two runs on nine hits in seven innings of work with seven strikeouts, getting the no decision. 

The Pioneers (2-2) return action on Wednesday when they travel to Fontbonne for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.