Frese earns 100th victory in split with Fontbonne
UW-Platteville baseball team managed to split its doubleheader with Fontbonne after leaving 19 runners on base on Tuesday at GCS Ballpark. The Pioneer took the first game 4-2 giving head coach Eric Frese his 100th victory at UW-Platteville and then fell in the nightcap 11-3.
SAUGET, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team managed to split its doubleheader with Fontbonne after leaving 19 runners on base on Tuesday at GCS Ballpark. The Pioneer took the first game 4-2 giving head coach Eric Frese his 100th victory at UW-Platteville and then fell in the nightcap 11-3.
Frese is now 100-146-2 in his seventh season at the helm of the Pioneer baseball program.
GAME ONE: UW-Platteville 4 – Fontbonne 2
Senior Bill Oppriecht responded well after falling last Friday against North Central by throwing seven scoreless innings versus Fontbonne. Oppriecht sat down the Griffins in order in the first and fourth innings and didn't give up more than one hit in any other inning.
The Pioneers loaded up the base in the third and fourth frames but could one manage to push one run across home plate, taking a 2-0 lead through four.
UW-Platteville hitters gave Oppriecht some cushion in the top of the seventh. After singles from Bobby Bean and Topher Scheeler the Pioneers broke the game open, 4-0, with a two RBI double from George Jester III.
The Griffins tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the eight but Mike Boushley stopped Fontbonne from scoring any more runs with two outs and the bases loaded.
Boushley struck out the side in the ninth earning the save, 4-2.
Bean and Jester tallied half of the Pioneers' eight hits.
GAME TWO: UW-Platteville 3 – Fontbonne 11
The Griffins didn't waste any time in game-two to get on the board scoring six runs on five hits and one Pioneer error in the bottom of the first.
The Pioneers cut their deficit to 6-2 in the third inning. Zach Demmon doubled to open the inning and scored a batter later on a passed ball. Bean would then single scoring Casey Schroeder from second.
The Griffins would end Adam Theis' day in the fourth inning by scoring three runs on four hits, 9-2. Theis gave up nine runs (six earned) on 10 hits with 3.2 innings.
Fontbonne added two more runs in the seventh, 11-2, and the Pioneers manufactured a run in the eight, 11-3.
The Griffins six players with multiple hits for 16 total hits. The Pioneers tallied five hits and earned six walks. UW-Platteville had their opportunities but could capitalize and leaving 10 runners on base.
Theis earned his first loss of the season and going 1-1 for the year as the Pioneers go 3-3 for the season.
The Pioneers will enjoy the weekend off before the take on Blackburn College in Carlinville, Ill. on Tuesday, March 19 for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.