Pioneers Sweep UW-Stevens Point

For the second-straight road WIAC doubleheader, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team pulled off a sweep. This time the Pioneers posted a 9-0 five-inning victory and a 3-1 win in the nightcap over host UW-Stevens Point on Saturday. With the two wins, UW-Platteville improves to 17-11 overall and 7-3 in the WIAC; whereas, UW-Stevens Point falls to 11-17 overall and 1-7 in the WIAC.

The recipe for the victories remains the same for UW-Platteville, success at the plate, in the circle and defensively. In game one, the Pioneers pounded out 10 hits including three from Ellyn Goerdt, two from Colleen Lowe and Molly Rice in the win. The Pioneers had two home runs including a two-run shot by Ashlen Folkers and a grand slam by Rice led the Pioneers to the 9-0 mercy-rule win over the Pointers in game one. In the circle, Melissa Anderson allowed just two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five in the win to raise her record to 9-5. Defensively, the Pioneers did not make an error and Rice threw out a baserunner at second in the second inning.

UW-Platteville scored once in the second inning for an early lead before scoring twice in the third on the two-run roundtripper by Folkers. Then, the Pioneers sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring six runs, four of which came in on the grand slam by Rice.

In the second game, the Pioneers were held to just four hits but they took advantage of three errors by UW-Stevens Point en route to the 3-1 win.

With no score in the third inning, the Pioneers did all their damage with two outs. Folkers doubled through the left side to start the rally. Then, Nathalie Schattner walked to put runners on first and second. Next, Folkers moved to third on a wild pitch; then, the hot bat of Ellyn Goerdt singled through the left side to score Folkers for the 1-0 lead. The Pioneers plated their next two runs on a pair of errors by the Pointers to stretch the lead to 3-0.

The Pointers scored their lone run in the bottom half of the inning; however, the Pioneers forced the home team to strand the bases loaded.

In the nightcap, Pioneer starting pitcher Jeni Freiburger pitched four innings, scattering five hits, allowing a run and striking out two to raise her record to 7-5. In relief, Melissa Anderson pitched the final three innings, allowing just three hits and striking out one. Offensively, Chantal McReynolds, Ashlen Folkers, Ellyn Goerdt and Jordan Johnson each contributed a hit.

The Pioneers are back in action on Sunday for a doubleheader at Augustana at 1 p.m.