Bixby and Greco throw complete games in Saturday sweep
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team swept the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds in two seven-inning games at Kendall Murray Field on Saturday. Freshman Isaac Bixby and senior Michael Greco combined for a total of 12 strikeouts with each throwing complete games.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wis.-Platteville
|
1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
|
Wis.-Eau Claire
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wis.-Platteville
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 |
|
Wis.-Eau Claire
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team swept the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds in two seven-inning games at Kendall Murray Field on Saturday. Initially scheduled to be played in Eau Claire, the teams were forced to move to Platteville due to winter-like conditions up north with UW-Eau Claire serving as the designated home team. Freshman Isaac Bixby and senior Michael Greco combined for a total of 12 strikeouts with each throwing complete games.
The Pioneers (10-11, 8-6 WIAC) jumped out to an early lead in both games and went on to defeat the Blugolds (7-15, 2-10 WIAC) 5-3 in game one and 6-1 in game two.
The Blugolds tallied one run in both the 1st and 2nd innings of game one to lead 2-1, but Jake Wegner's single followed by a sacrifice fly by Ben Espinoza batted in two runs to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the 3rd frame. Ross Krist batted in two more in the 6th to extend the advantage to 5-2.
UW-Eau Claire made their best go at a comeback and tallied one run in the final inning, but the Pioneers got out of the jam and left runners stranded on first and third.
Bixby picked up his third win of the season and struck out six, walked four and allowed seven hits and two earned runs in seven innings.
In game two, Pioneers scored quickly in the 1st inning again, this time off a single to right field by Wegner to bat in Jonathan Kelso.
Kelso tallied an RBI in the next inning to take a 2-0 lead and UW-Platteville went on to hold UW-Eau Claire scoreless through the first five innings.
The 6th inning was one the Blugolds may wish to forget as the Pioneers increased their lead by four unearned runs. Mitchell McLaughlin reached first on an error and scored three batters later when Krist singled through the left side. Wyatt Molitor batted in another off a sac fly and Wegner finished the inning with a 2RBI double. Ryan Venne homered to lead off the Blugolds in the bottom of the inning and registered their lone run of the game.
Greco (2-2) struck out eight, walked two and surrendered three hits and one run in seven innings.
The final two games of the series against the Blugolds have yet to be rescheduled. UW-Platteville will return to action at home on Wednesday, April 20 at 3 p.m. when the host Edgewood College.