UW-Superior sweeps Pioneers to take series

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – UW-Superior swept the University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team on Sunday, 12-5 and 8-7 at Kendall Murray Field, and took three out of four away from the Pioneers. 

The Pioneers fell to 6-18 and 1-9 in WIAC action, while the Yellowjackets improve to 10-13 and 2-5 in league play. 

GAME ONE: UW-Platteville 5, UW-Superior 12

The Yellowjackets homered twice in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. 

The Pioneers got on a board in the third and were able to tie the game up at 2-2. Senior Tyler Jacobson got the inning started with a two-out single and George Jester III then singled up the middle and an fielding error by the center fielder allowed Jacobson to go to third and Jester to second. With runners on second and third, sophomore Evan Greco cleared the bases with a two-RBI single up the middle. 

A pair of hits, including a one-out double allowed Superior to regain the lead, 3-2, in the fourth inning. When the Pioneers got their chance to bat in the fourth, rookie Ryan Lehmann led off with a double down the left field line. An error by the pitcher put runners on the corners, and a RBI single to left center by Casey Schroeder tied the game up, 3-3. Jester came through in the clutch scoring Schroeder with a two-out single to left field and giving UW-Platteville a 4-3 lead. 

The Yellowjackets tied the game up in the sixth and then scored three runs in the seventh to take a 7-4 lead. They scored another in the eighth and then four more in the ninth for good measure. 

Senior Adam Theis suffered the loss but struck out six in 6.1 innings of work. 

The Pioneers totaled 12 hits with Jester and junior Zach Demmon leading  the way with three hits apiece. 

GAME TWO: UW-Platteville 7, UW-Superior 8

The nightcap didn't start well for the Pioneers as freshman Shane Sosinsky gave up six runs on four hits in 0.2 innings. Junior Shane Murphy was able to get the final out of the first inning as Superior took a 6-0 lead. 

The Pioneers began to chip away at their deficit in the third inning getting a run on three hits, 6-1.

The Yellowjackets responded with two runs in the fourth earning a 8-1 lead, but the Pioneers stayed aggressive at the plate scoring two runs in the bottom half of the fourth. 

Jester was at it again, starting fifth inning with a single to third and scored two batters later. UW-Platteville added another on a RBI single from Ryan Duva, 8-5. 

Demmon continued the Pioneer comeback by drilling a homer over the left field wall on the first pitch of the seventh inning.  The Pioneers managed to push one more across in the inning, 8-7. 

Even though the Pioneers got down early they had their chances to get back into the game and win as they left 13 runners on base. The Pioneers out hit the Yellowjackets 17-13 with six Pioneers with multiple hits. 

Murphy was put in a tough situation but made the best out of it by throwing 8.1 innings and struke out seven while allowing nine hits and two runs. 

UW-Platteville will have some time to regroup before they take on defending conference champions UW-La Crosse on April 20-21 for a four game series.