Pioneers Split in Opening Weekend

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team opened up the 2011 season with a 3-2 victory over Carleton and a 10-5 loss to Bethel University in Rochester, Minnesota on Saturday.

The Pioneers (1-1) began the season with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Carleton to start the season. In the win, Samantha Niemann and Ellyn Goerdt each had two hits to pace the UW-Platteville attack. Niemann had a two-run home run in the fifth inning to put the Pioneers ahead by a 3-1 margin.

In the circle, Melissa Anderson went the distance for the complete game victory, striking out six and scattering eight hits.

In the night cap against Bethel University, the visitors plated six runs in the second inning and four more in the fifth in the win.

The Pioneers' offense featured six-different players with a hit including Ellyn Goerdt and Chantal McReynolds, who each had a team-best two hits in the win. Plus, Colleen Lowe had two RBIs in the win. In the circle, Jeni Freirburger went five innings in the loss.

The Pioneers are idle until they travel to the Sunshine State - Florida - for eight games in four days while in Kissimmee, Florida.