Pioneers drop close one to Dubuque, 5-3

Written by Colten Bartholomew, UW-Platteville Sports Information Intern

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Pioneer baseball team dropped a tight contest to Dubuque, 5-3, in its third game in Fort Myers, Fla.

Both teams were kept off the scoreboard until the third inning, when the Spartans got two unearned runs.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville tied the game in the fourth inning, when second baseman George Jester III shot a double into right-center field to bring shortstop Casey Schroeder around to score. Jester III scored three batters later on Ryan Lehmann's single to center.

The Pioneers took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on an RBI double to center by centerfielder Ryan Duva, one of Duva's three hits in the game.

Dubuque tied the game again in the sixth on an RBI double, then regained the lead in the seventh with a two-RBI triple.

UW-Platteville was unable to get any runs in their last four chances, losing 5-3.

Despite the loss, the Pioneer got a solid start from freshman Nathan Fay, who threw 6.1 innings, giving up just three earned runs while striking out six. Duva's three hits tied for the most in the game.

The Pioneers will look to capture their first win in Florida tomorrow, as they take on Bethel (Minn.) at 9 a.m.