Pioneers walk off and sweep UW-Stevens Point

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team swept UW-Stevens Point Saturday with a 12-2 win in game one and 5-4 walk-off win in game two at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex.

The Pioneers improve to 11-13 and 2-2 in the WIAC while the Pointers fall to 12-15-1 and 0-5-1 in the league.

In game one, an eight-run third inning proved to be too much for the Pointers and the Pioneers won 12-2 in five innings.

With two outs, UW-Platteville scored all eight runs in the third inning with seven of the eight runs earned.

Riley Kelsch, Alejandra Ochoa, Shannon Gaul, and Rachel Plautz all went two-for-three at the plate with Gaul racking up two doubles in game one.

Ashton Hoeppner (W, 4-7) pitched four innings, struck out three, and yielded two hits and one walk while UW-Stevens Point's Haley Barnes (L, 5-4) suffered the loss and allowed five hits, seven earned runs, and walked five.

In game two, Gaul's walk-off home run over center field completed the sweep with a 5-4 Pioneer victory.

The Pointers took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning and improved to 4-0. The Pioneers began to notch their way back with a double up the middle by Chaela West to score two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Another double to right center by Plautz scored two additional runs in the sixth and sent the Pioneers and Pointers into the final inning tied 4-4.

Five batters and three outs later, Gaul stepped up to the plate first for the Pioneers and homered over center field to secure the Pioneer victory.

In the second game, Gaul led the Pioneers' hitting and went 2-for-2.  Plautz, West, and Dallas Cavegn combined for the Pioneers' three doubles while Gaul owned the only home run of the day.

Abby Burns (W, 4-4) took over in the circle for Andra O'Brien in the first inning and closed out game two. Burns struck out one and only allowed one run with five hits and six walks. Haley Barnes (L, 5-5) suffered another loss after taking over for Ashley Cohen in the seventh.  Cohen stuck out seven and yielded nine hits, four runs, and walked four Pioneers.

Overall, the Pioneers outhit the Pointers 19-10 in the double header and did not commit a single error.

The Pioneers will return to action on Monday, April 15 for a non-conference double header against Wisconsin Lutheran at 3 and 5 p.m. in Platteville.