Pioneers take two from Eagles
LA CROSSE, Wis. – For the first time since 2015, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team took two games from the UW-La Crosse Eagles on Saturday. The Pioneers (4-8, 2-4 WIAC) defeated UW-La Crosse (9-6, 4-2 WIAC) 7-4 in game one and 7-6 in game two in Copeland Park.
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wis.-Platteville
|
1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 4 |
|
Wis.-La Crosse
|
1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wis.-Platteville
|
1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
|
Wis.-La Crosse
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
LA CROSSE, Wis. – For the first time since 2015, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team took two games from the UW-La Crosse Eagles on Saturday. The Pioneers (4-8, 2-4 WIAC) defeated UW-La Crosse (9-6, 4-2 WIAC) 7-4 in game one and 7-6 in game two in Copeland Park.
In game one, the Pioneers wreaked havoc in the second inning after two outs to score five runs and lead 6-2. With a runner on first, leadoff hitter Ross Krist singled to right field before Jonathan Kelso tripled to center field to bat in two runs. Next up, Jason Adams singled to score Kelso and before the Eagles could get out of the inning, Wyatt Molitor hit a left field bomb to run in Adams and himself.
While the Pioneers had a big second inning, the story of the day was freshman RHP Isaac Bixby (1-0). The Pioneer started and pitched 8.1 innings striking out seven, walking just one, and allowing seven hits. UW-Platteville held the Eagles scoreless in all but the first and final frames of the day. Sam Hernandez closed the game and tallied the save.
The Eagles came out swinging and jumped out to an early 5-1 lead after the first two innings of game two. However, Kelso homered in the first at-bat of the 3rd frame to remind UW-La Crosse that the game was not over. Two batters and hits later, Zach McCoy singled to centerfield to score another run. The Pioneers added one more run off a throwing error to trim UW-La Crosse's lead to 5-4.
UW-Platteville then tied and took the lead off a 2RBI single to right field by Molitor in the 7th inning. Ben Espinoza batted in one more run, and what would become the game-winning run, to take a two-run lead with 2.5 innings remaining. UW-La Crosse added one run in the 8th frame, but Brady Hoppert closed the final inning and struck out two Eagles to preserve the win.
Nate Jennings (1-1) took the win and struck out four, walked two and allowed four hits and one run in four innings pitched.
Molitor went 4-5 with 3RBIs in game two while Kelso tallied two stolen bases.
The Pioneers will look to repeat the wins on Sunday, April 3 in games three and four of the WIAC series. First pitch is set for noon.
