Pioneers Take First Two in WIAC Play for First Time Since 2006

For the first time since the 2006 season, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team has began WIAC play with a 2-0 mark, following a 4-1 and 17-5 doubleheader sweep of UW-Superior on Saturday at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex.

The two wins extends the Pioneers winning streak to three games and raises their record to 10-8 overall and 2-0 in the WIAC. The Yellow Jackets, who have yet to play a home game, drop to 4-10 overall and 0-2 in the WIAC.

In game one, the two teams overcame chilly 39 degree temps for 14 hits. However, it was three different Pioneers, who had two hits including Nathalie Schattner, Ellyn Goerdt and Molly Rice. UW-Platteville starting pitcher Melissa Anderson raised her record to 6-4 with a complete game, who matched a season-high with seven strikeouts and scattered eight hits.

With the game tied at one, the Pioneers plated three decisive runs in the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out, a miscue by the Yellow Jackets on a Jordan Johnson fly ball scored the go-ahead run for UW-Platteville. Next, Rice drove in two more on a single to put the Pioneers ahead 4-1.

The Yellow Jackets mounted a threat in the seventh with a single and a double to start the inning. Then, Anderson took over getting a ground out, a strikeout and another ground out to keep UW-Superior off the scoreboard and preserve the win.

In game two, the sun started to peak through the clouds and sparked a Pioneer offensive attack for 17 runs on 15 hits. The 17 runs are the most by a UW-Platteville squad since a 22-4 win on April 5, 2007 against Dubuque.

Nathalie Schattner led the attack with a 3-for-4 effort with three runs scored and five RBIs. Two of her three hits were home runs.

Also with three hits was Chantal McReynolds, who scored three times and drove in four and Kayla Gosdeck. Ellyn Goerdt and Jordan Johnson each had two hits in the win.

The Pioneers found themselves behind early 2-0 in the top of the first but that lead was quickly erased in the bottom half of the inning with the first of two homeruns by Schattner. UW-Platteville continued its offensive prowess with a six-run effort in the second inning. In the inning, Schattner hit her second two-run home run and a two-RBI single by McReynolds sparked the Pioneers.

UW-Superior scored once in the third and two more in the fourth to cut the deficit to 8-5. However, again the Pioneers had an answer in the fourth inning. In the inning, the Pioneers sent 12 batters to the plate for nine runs on nine hits.

In relief of starter Jeni Freiburger, the Pioneers’ Brittany Caley retired the Yellow Jackets in order in the fifth to secure the run-rule victory for UW-Platteville. Freiburger picked up the win, pitching four innings and striking out two to improve to 3-4.

The Pioneers will look to continue its winning ways on Sunday, Apr. 1 when they host UW-Eau Claire at 1 p.m. at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex.