Pioneers Take One Game From Eighth-Ranked Eagles

LA CROSSE, Wis. – After falling 13-3 in game one, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (8-10, 3-7 WIAC) bounced back with a 3-2 win in game two over eighth-ranked UW-La Crosse (18-3, 9-1 WIAC) on Wednesday afternoon from Copeland Park in La Crosse.

Game One

The Eagles flexed their offensive power in the first two innings, hitting four home runs en route to an 8-0 advantage. Senior Brady Katterhagen answered with a home run of his own for the Pioneers in the third, but a four-run bottom half of the inning for UW-La Crosse increased the gap to 12-1.

UW-Platteville scored in the sixth on a two-out RBI double by freshman Danny Hodel and in the seventh on an RBI single by sophomore Caleb Parker. The Eagles sandwiched a run in between, leading to the 13-3 final in seven innings.

Parker posted a pair of hits in the loss, and the Pioneers finished with six hits as a team. Katterhagen, Hodel, freshman Trinity Beland, and senior Slate Higa recorded the other four hits.

Sophomore Matthew Carlson was dealt the loss in his first start of the season. Sophomore Peerson Kephart was the Pioneers most effective pitcher in the contest, throwing three shutout innings and allowing just two hits.

Game Two

Junior Pierce Nelson got the start for the Pioneers in game two and threw three scoreless innings while navigating through a pair of jams in the first and second innings. UW-La Crosse broke through in the fourth on a solo home run off senior Conner Paulson, and the game remained 1-0 in favor of the Eagles until the eighth.

With two outs, Beland singled and advanced to third on an error before scoring UW-Platteville's first run on a wild pitch. Another Eagles error allowed Parker to reach, and senior Jake Wegner singled to put two runners on for freshman Anthony Massa. Massa came through with a double down the right field line to score Parker, and freshman Danny Hodel brought in Wagner with an infield single to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead.

UW-La Crosse got one back in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly and then put the tying run on second in the ninth before a pair of strikeouts and a groundout ended the game with freshman Brayden Schimmel collecting the win.

Schimmel threw the final four innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out three to pick up his second win off the season.

UW-Platteville finished with eight hits, led by two from both Beland and Massa. That duo recorded the Pioneers only extra base hits of the game as well.

Up Next

The Pioneers return home for a four-game weekend series with UW-River Falls starting on Saturday at noon. UW-Platteville will also recognize the Senior class following Saturday's doubleheader.