Softball takes one of two to start Florida trip

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team fell to the University of New England, 13-8, in the Pioneers' opening game of their Florida trip; but the Pioneers bounced back quickly, taking care of Alfred State, 8-3, in their final game on Monday at the Lee County Park and Rec. fields in Fort Myers, Fla.

Junior Haley Salazar gave the Pioneers an early lead 3-0, with a bases clearing double. New England responded in the bottom half of the first with four runs on four hits and then kept the scoring going the second frame with five more runs, 9-3.

Pioneers took two back in the top of the third before giving up three more, 12-5.

Sophomore Rachael Strong started a three-run fourth inning with a solo homer, 12-8.

The Pioneers had eight different players record a hit, as sophomore Keri Treml recorded the loss.

UW-Platteville got its bats going in the second inning against Alfred State, as the Pioneers scored six runs on four hits. Juniors MJ Patten and Lisa Karau each recorded two-RBI hits.

Alfred answered in the bottom half of the second with the help of a lead of walk, but Cassie Roach kept Alfred from scoring more than one run, 6-1.

Roach went to shut down Alfred State the next four innings, as the Pioneers took a comfortable 8-1 lead going into the seventh inning.

Roach earned the complete game victory, allowed six hits and struck out four.

Senior Becca Lowe led the Pioneer hitters with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs, while fellow senior Ellyn Goerdt went 2-for-4.

UW-Platteville takes on Mass.-Dartmouth and Brockport on Tuesday, starting at 9 a.m. local time.