Pioneers drop both games of Tuesday twin bill

Written by Colten Bartholomew, UW-Platteville Sports Information Intern

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Pioneer offense was stifled by the Warhawks for much of the afternoon Tuesday, as University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team fell in both games of their doubleheader, 9-3 and 7-0.

Game One

Both teams were unable to crack the scoreboard early in the first game, as both starters were dealing and working out of jams.

The Warhawks broke out in the fourth inning, plating four runners on the strength of four consecutive hits and some well-placed groundouts. UW-Whitewater added another run on a sac fly in the fifth.

Pioneer DH George Jester III answered in the fifth, bringing in the first UW-Platteville run of the day on a sac fly of his own, and then one batter later second baseman Zack Iverson came through with a two-RBI single with the bases loaded to bring the score to 5-3.

After scoreless sixth and seventh innings, UW-Whitewater was able to widen their lead to 9-3 with a four-run eighth and the host Pioneers were unable to take advantage of a bases loaded situation in their half of the ninth to attempt a comeback.

Iverson paced the Pioneer lineup, going 3-4 with the two RBIs. Pioneer starter Mike Boushley, despite getting the loss, notched five strikeouts in his six innings of work.

Game Two

The loss of momentum late in the first game trickled over to the second game, as the Pioneers were unable to generate much at the plate the entire game.

With the hitters facing difficulty at the plate, the Pioneers used a platoon effort on the mound to keep the team in the game.

UW-Platteville head coach Eric Frese used five pitchers, with none pitching more than two innings. The first three pitchers, Eric Curtis, Jonny Frese and Scott Drake, did their best to cool the Warhawk bats, and were able to keep crooked numbers off the scoreboard.

Down 4-0 after five innings, the Pioneers were still unable to string together hits and put pressure on the UW-Whitewater pitchers.

The Warhawks added three runs in the ninth to put the Pioneers out of reach for good.

Frese's squad will have a quick turnaround, as the Platteville nine will play a makeup game with Loras College tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. at Kendall Murray Field.