Pioneers split on day two in Rochester Dome

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team (2-2) went 1-1 on Sunday with a 1-0 win over St. Catherine (3-1) before a 2-8 loss to Luther (5-0).

In the first game of the day, senior Rachel Bonnell scored the walk off run in the bottom of the seventh for the only run of the game.

Junior Ashton Hoeppner pitched the complete game shutout, allowed just five base runners and struck out six batters.

The Pioneers were held to seven hits and freshman Claire Bakkestuen tallied two of the seven.

Alyssa Montero (1-1) took the loss for the Wildcats and pitched six innings, allowing one run in the seventh inning with no outs. 

In game two, the Pioneers and Norse each had eight hits but the Norse capitalized and scored six runs in the first inning.

Bakkestuen and sophomore Lexi Meurer had two hits each. Meurer and Bonnell each had doubles. 

Bakkestuen (0-1) pitched the first three innings and allowed six earned runs on six hits and three walks. Junior Abby Burns threw 2.1 perfect innings and freshman Taylor Ferretti pitched the final .2 innings and allowed two runs.

Kendra Cooper (2-0) pitched five scoreless innings for the Norse and Sam Thompson pitched the final two, giving up two runs.

The Pioneers have a break until they travel to Clermont, Fla. and play ten games between March 21 and 26. Their first two games are on Saturday, March 21 vs St. Thomas at 4:00 pm EDT and Fredonia at 6:15 pm EDT.