Pioneers Take Two From Blue Devils Saturday

MENOMONIE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (7-11, 4-5 WIAC) wrapped up a four-game series against UW-Stout (6-10, 1-7 WIAC) on Saturday afternoon with a pair of wins from Nelson Field. The Pioneers offense rolled to a 13-4 win in game one before the pitching put together a strong game two for a 5-2 victory.

Game One

After the Blue Devils put one on the board in the top of the first, the Pioneers responded with an 11-run second inning, including 10 with two outs, to take command of the game. The first two runs of the inning scored via a pair of wild pitches before senior Wyatt Molitor knocked in two baserunners with a single. Junior Justin Fago ripped a triple to left field to bring home two more, and Bossert plated Fago with his second hit of the inning. Another single and a walk loaded the bases and junior Brady Katterhagen connected on UW-Platteville's second grand slam of the series to make it 11-1.

UW-Stout scored three runs in the coming innings before sophomore Caleb Parker capped off the scoring for the game with a double to right field that scored junior Slate Higa and Katterhagen.

Senior Mitchell Pomeroy improved to 2-0 on the season after allowing four earned runs across six innings. Senior Jake Schneider earned the save, his first of the year, after tossing the final three frames. He allowed just two walks while striking out two to collect the save.

The Pioneers offense produced 13 runs on 12 hits, as the team stranded just two runners in the contest. Fago led the way with three hits, while Molitor and Bossert each had a pair.

Game Two

UW-Stout broke through with two runs in the third inning to get the scoring started in the second game with a pair of two-out RBI hits. The Pioneers answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs on an RBI single by Molitor and a sacrifice fly by Bossert to even the score at two.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Parker and Molitor each singled to put runners on the corners with just one out. Parker then scored on a wild pitch before Molitor and Fago came around to score on a throwing error to make it 5-2 in favor of the Pioneers.

UW-Platteville kept the Blue Devils off the scoreboard for the final four frames behind sophomore Jordan Stanton and freshman Peerson Kephart to earn the sweep on Saturday.

Stanton threw a quality start and earned the win to improve to 1-3 on the year. He gave up two runs on eight hits across six innings while striking out seven. Kephart picked up his first career save by throwing the final three innings while allowing just two hits.

At the plate, UW-Platteville finished with nine hits, with Molitor and Bossert leading the team with two apiece. The Pioneers drew five walks in the game and got a stolen base from Parker.

Next Up

The Pioneers will host UW-Whitewater in a mid-week WIAC doubleheader on Wednesday. Games are set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.