UW-Platteville Begins 2012 Season with 1-1 Mark

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team split its first two games of the 2012 season on Saturday in Clermont, Florida.

The Pioneers started the day with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in extra innings to William Patterson before coming back to win its second game of the day, 5-4 over Chicago.

UW-Platteville (1-1) found itself behind early 1-0 on an unearned run in the first before rallying to tie it in the sixth on a RBI double by Ashlen Folkers. To start the inning, Chantal McReynolds got on with a single. The senior stole second and advanced to third on an error. She later came in on to score on the Folkers double.

UW-Platteville starter Jeni Freiburger kept William Patterson in check, allowing just five hits and struck out five as the tough-luck loser.

In the eighth inning, the UW-Platteville Pioneers stranded the bases loaded and the WP Pioneers got a pinch-hit RBI single for the game-winning run. For William Patterson, Melissa Swain went 2-for-3 to lead William Patterson.

In the nightcap against Chicago, the Pioneers jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the first on a three-run homerun by Nathalie Schattner. The Maroons cut the deficit to 3-2 with a two-run fourth inning.

In the fifth, UW-Platteville added to its lead on a two-RBI single by Colleen Lowe for a 5-2 lead. Chicago scored twice in the sixth but an alert defensive play ended the inning and ended the threat.

Five different Pioneers had a hit and junior pitcher Melissa Anderson went the distance and struck out four for her first win on the season.

The Pioneers are back in action on Sunday with games against SUNY-New Paltz at 8 a.m. and Concordia (WI) at 10 a.m.