Pioneers drop two games in Arizona

Tucson, AZ – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team suffered two losses Saturday with a close 1-0 fall to Skidmore College before being unable to come back from an early deficit in game two over George Fox University.

Skidmore's Hannah Davis (1-1) went the distance for the win, tallied 7 strikeouts, two walks, and held the Pioneers to just two hits with none coming after the Thoroughbreds took the 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth.

Ashton Hoeppner got the start in game one and struck out three with no walks before Abby Burns (1-1) took the loss and relieved Hoeppner in the top of the third.  Burns struck out five and walked one.  Burns and Hoeppner gave up six hits combined to Skidmore's two.

With the loss in game one, the Pioneers fell to 2-3 overall while Skidmore improved to 3-5.

In game two, the Pioneers picked up a game against George Fox University Friday after the scheduled game against Edgewood College was cancelled. UW-Platteville fell into an early deficit against the Bruins and the game was called after five innings 13-3.

George Fox held the advantage over the Pioneers in hits (15-to-6) and strikeouts (6-to-1). The Bruins' lead-off hitter, Kimi Ito went 3-4 followed by Alyssa Gonzalez who went a perfect 3-3 and each had three runs scored apiece.

Riley Kelsch had a team high two hits including a double and a run scored.

Ashley Davis (3-4) took the win while Ashton Hoeppner (1-2) took the loss and was relieved by Andra O'Brien in the top of the third.

The Pioneers drop to 2-4 while the Bruins improve to 8-6 overall.

The Pioneers return to action Sunday with games scheduled against Hamline and Gustavus Adolphus before taking a day off on Monday in Tucson, Arizona.