Pioneers Post 1-1 Mark on First Day of WIAC Softball Tournament

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team split its two games on Friday at the WIAC Softball Tournament in its first tourney appearance in 2008.

The Pioneers lost an 8-0, five inning decision to No. 2 seed and No. 22 UW-Whitewater to start the day. Facing elimination, UW-Platteville was held to one hit – but it was enough – in a 1-0 win over UW-Oshkosh.

With no score in the fourth inning, UW-Platteville's Nathalie Schattner reached on an error to start the inning. The Pioneers brought off the bench, Cassandra Bonin to run for Schattner. A passed ball and sacrifice bunt by Colleen Lowe moved Bonin to third.

Then, Pioneer catcher Molly Rice singled to left field to score Bonin for the first hit of the day for UW-Platteville for which proved to be the game-winning run.

UW-Platteville pitcher Jeni Freiburger pitched the first shutout of her career, allowing just three hits and striking out five.

For UW-Platteville, it is the first WIAC Tournament win since a 2008 elimination game against UW-La Crosse, 15-4 and the first WIAC Tournament shutout win by the Pioneer since a 2003 shutout of UW-Superior, 9-0 and the first WIAC Tournament win over the Titans since 2002.

The Pioneers will not return to the diamond to a 2 p.m. match up against the winner of UW-Stout and host UW-Eau Claire, who will play one another at 10 a.m. on Saturday.