Pioneers Split Home Doubleheader Saturday

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (6-8, 1-5 WIAC) split a home doubleheader with UW-Stevens Point (6-10, 2-4 WIAC) on Saturday, falling 10-5 in game one before winning 3-2 in game two from Kendall Murray Field.

Game One

The Pioneers got on the board in the opening inning, as freshman Trinity Beland scored on an RBI single by senior Jake Wegner. Scoring opportunities were limited over the next couple innings until UW-Stevens Point tied the game in the top of the fifth with a two-out single.

UW-Platteville regained the lead in the bottom half of the fifth as an error allowed sophomore Connor Gresens to score with two outs. Two more runs scored in the frame on a single by freshman Anthony Massa that made it 4-1 in favor of the Pioneers.

Senior Isaac Bixby had cruised through the first six innings for UW-Platteville before running into some trouble in the seventh. The Pointers scored three runs in the seventh, tying the game at four apiece. Bixby finished his start with four runs allowed (two earned) across seven innings while striking out five.

UW-Stevens Point got to the Pioneers bullpen, scoring twice in the eighth and four in the ninth to take a 10-4 lead. UW-Platteville scored once in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Massa, but the Pointers took game one 10-5.

Sophomore Peerson Kephart was charged with the loss for the Pioneers, dropping him to 0-2 on the season.

At the plate, UW-Platteville finished with 10 hits, with Wegner and junior Sam Meidenbauer each tallying three hits. Massa added two hits and drove in three of the Pioneers four runs.

Game Two

UW-Platteville scored one run in each of the first three innings, which proved to be enough in the close win. Massa continued his strong day with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first before sophomore Caleb Parker brought home junior Mason Molitor with a two-out hit in the second. A bases loaded walk by senior Slate Higa was the Pioneers final run of game two.

Senior Brady Hoppert put together a strong outing on the mound, holding the Pointers to just two runs across seven innings. He struck out five and allowed just three hits and two walks. UW-Stevens Points only runs came in the fourth on an RBI groundout and in the seventh on a two-out RBI double.

The Pointers threatened in the eighth and loaded the bases with two outs until Conner Paulson entered from the bullpen and got a pop up to end the chance. Paulsen remained in the game and retired UW-Stevens Point in order in the ninth to secure the 3-2 win.

UW-Platteville outhit the Pointers 8-4, with Parker finishing with a team-high three hits and senior Brady Katterhagen adding a pair of hits.

Up Next

The Pioneers will wrap up the four-game series with UW-Stevens Point tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon.