Pioneers Split Doubleheader against Cornell on Senior Day

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball split team split a doubleheader with Cornell College on Thursday, losing 4-1 in game one and winning 6-5 in game two.

The Pioneers (19-15) recognized between the two games its four seniors, including first baseman Jordan Johnson, shortstop Chantal McReynolds and outfielder Megan Pozezinski and student assistant coach Robert Reder.

The Rams (20-15) had 10 hits in each game of the doubleheader, including five (two in game one, three in game two) by Kari Martin.

In game one, after each team stranded a pair of base runners in the first inning, Cornell went ahead 2-0 in the second inning when they took advantage of an error by the Pioneers. A RBI groundout in the fourth stretched the Rams lead to 3-0.

After stranding base runners in the second and third inning, UW-Platteville cut the deficit to 3-1 when Chantal McReynolds drove in Kayla Gosdeck, who reached on a one-out walk, from second base.

The Pioneers loaded the bases in the sixth but Cornell starter Jill Trzaska got a fly out to end the threat for UW-Platteville. Then, the Rams added its fourth run on a RBI sacrifice fly by Martin in the seventh.

Trzaska went all seven innings for the Rams, where she struck out five and gave up five hits in the win to raise her record to 10-6.

Pioneers' starter Melissa Anderson also went the distance, gave up four runs - two earned and struck out three in the loss to fall to 10-8.

In the nightcap, the Pioneer offense came on late and it was the play of its seniors that played a significant role in the 6-5 comeback win. As the offense stepped up, in relief, Anderson pitched the final two innings and gave up just two hits to raise her record to 11-8.

Cornell scored a run each in the first two innings for an early 2-0 lead. UW-Platteville plated an unearned run on a RBI single by Kayla Gosdeck in the second to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Rams' starter Amanda Engel held the Pioneers without an additional hit until Pozezinski hit a triple in the fifth inning. By that time, Cornell had built a 5-2 lead on the Pioneers.

After the triple by Pozezinski, she came around to score when McReynolds drove her in with a double. Next, Ashlen Folkers brought in McReynolds from second to cut the deficit to 5-4. Then, Folkers scored on a RBI single by Nathalie Schattner to tie it at 5. Back-to-back groundouts ended the inning for UW-Platteville.

Then, Anderson entered the game for the Pioneers and got three groundouts to silence the Cornell offense. In its half of the sixth, Kayla Gosdeck started the inning with a single down the left-field line. She advanced to second on a Taylor Ruchti sacrifice bunt.

After a strikeout by Engel and two out, an error on a McReynolds ball was misplayed by the Cornell shortstop and a hustling Gosdeck scored from second to put the Pioneers ahead for the first time on the afternoon.

A walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for UW-Platteville; however, the Rams kept the Pioneers from adding to their lead with a fly out. After an infield single to start the inning, Anderson got a pair of groundouts and a fly out to preserve the 6-5 win.

Next, the Pioneers return to the rigors of the WIAC, where they will face UW-River Falls on Sunday in a doubleheader at noon.