Pioneers Split Friday Doubleheader Against Greenville

GREENVILLE, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (1-4) split a doubleheader against Greenville (3-5) on Friday afternoon at Robert E. Smith Field. The Pioneers won 6-0 in game one before dropping game two by a score of 9-2.

The Pioneers started game one strong by scoring three runs on four hits in the top half of the first. Senior Wyatt Molitor drove in the first run on an RBI groundout, and freshman Mason Molitor plated the second on a bases loaded single to right field. The third crossed the plate via a bases full hit-by-pitch.

In the third inning, sophomore Justin Fago connected on his second home run of the season with a two-run shot to right center to increase the lead to 5-0. UW-Platteville tacked on another in the top of the sixth on a bases loaded single by sophomore Chris Tsouras.

Sophomore Isaac Bixby earned the win on the mound, throwing five shutout innings and striking out three while allowing five hits. Junior Josh Belgrave threw the final two innings to preserve the shutout.

Senior Grant Mullins went 3-for-4 and scored once at the top of the Pioneers lineup, while Tsouras went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Fago was the third Pioneer to record a multi-hit game, as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Greenville scored nine runs in the first three innings of game two to take control early. The Pioneers scored twice in the fifth on a fielder's choice groundout by freshman Charlie Breen and a single by Tsouras but the Panthers won 9-2.

Senior Dillon Sunnquist tallied two of the six Pioneer hits in game two and scored a run. Sophomore Brady Hoppert was charged with the loss on the mound after allowing six runs in over an inning of work. Junior Jake Schneider was strong with three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out four.

The Pioneers will play next Saturday, March 18 against Carroll (Wis.) to begin the spring break trip to Pensacola, Florida. First-pitch will be at 4:30 p.m.