Pioneers Go Deep in Wins Over SUNY-New Paltz, 3-2 and Concordia (WI), 5-2

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team extended its record to 3-1 with a 3-2 win over SUNY-New Paltz and a 5-2 win over Concordia (WI) on Sunday in Clermont, Florida.

With an 8 a.m. first pitch, the Pioneers offense erupted for three runs in the second inning to defeat SUNY-New Paltz. The big blast for the second-straight day came from the bat of junior Nathalie Schattner, who hit a three-run homerun.

With two out, after back-to-back singles by Ashlen Folkers and Colleen Lowe, Schattner hit a homerun to put UW-Platteville ahead 3-0. With the lead, Pioneers' starter Jeni Freiburger kept the Hawks in check surrendering just two hits and striking out six for her first win of the season.

With the Pioneers holding a 3-2 lead in the seventh, the Hawks had the tying run on third with one out. Freiburger closed the game out with back-to-back groundouts to preserve the win.

In the second game of the day, UW-Platteville rallied from a 2-1 deficit to score four in the bottom of the sixth for its first come-from-behind win of the season over Concordia (WI).

The Pioneers' Ellyn Goerdt and Molly Rice each had a two-run homerun in the sixth inning to propel the comeback. Chantal McReynolds and Goerdt each had two hits in the win. Starting pitcher Melissa Anderson picked up her second win of the season, scattering seven hits and two unearned runs.

In the sixth inning, Schattner walked to start the inning. Next, following a pop out, Rice put the Pioneers ahead for the first time in the game with her roundtripper for a 3-2 lead. Then, pinch hitter Jessie Mergen walked and after a passed ball and wild pitch, Goerdt hit a two-run homerun. It is the second career homerun for Goerdt in her career.

Next, the Pioneers are idle until Tuesday, Mar. 20 when they face SUNY-Oneonta at 10 a.m. and Wellesley at noon.