Pioneers Earn Split With No. 4 Warhawks Wednesday

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – For the first time since 2017, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (9-19, 5-11 WIAC) beat fourth-ranked UW-Whitewater (27-6, 17-3 WIAC) behind a score of 7-4 in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader from Kendall Murray Field. The Warhawks took game two of the day by a score of 6-4.

Game One

The Pioneers loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning and got two runs to score on an error. Junior Chris Tsouras added another run to the early lead in the second inning on a leadoff home run to centerfield.

The Warhawks evened the game at three apiece with a three-run third inning, but UW-Platteville regained the lead on an RBI groundout by senior Mitchell Pomeroy. Later in the inning, junior Brady Katterhagen came in to score on an error to make it 5-3 in favor of the Pioneers.

After UW-Whitewater cut the deficit to one with a fifth-inning run, the Pioneers got insurance runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings to hold a three-run cushion heading into the final frame. In the seventh, Pomeroy drew a bases-loaded walk, while in the eighth, Tsouras connected on an opposite-field blast for his second home run of the game.

Senior Jake Schneider capped the win for UW-Platteville by working a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the season.

Junior Brady Hoppert improved to 2-4 on the season with the win, and he held UW-Whitewater's offense to four runs on six hits. Junior Conner Paulson then threw three scoreless innings prior to Schneider and allowed three hits while striking out four.

At the plate, the Pioneers finished with eighth hits, with junior Justin Fago and Tsouras leading the way with two each.

Game Two

UW-Platteville started fast in the second game, scoring three times in the bottom of the first, all with two outs. Tsouras continued his strong day with an RBI double to open the scoring and senior Jake Wegner plated two more with a single up the middle.

The Warhawks got two back in the fourth and then took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on a two-run double. UW-Platteville tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on an error, but UW-Whitewater scored the final two runs on the game in the seventh to win 6-4.

The Pioneers finished with eight hits, with sophomore Caleb Parker leading the way with two hits and two runs scored. On the mound, freshman Isaac Then was charged with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) across the final five innings. Junior Josh Belgrave got the start and threw a pair of scoreless innings.

Up Next

The Pioneers are scheduled to travel to UW-Eau Claire this weekend for a pair of conference doubleheaders. Games on both Saturday and Sunday are slated for noon and 3 p.m.