Pioneers drop two against No. 16 MSOE

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team dropped a pair at No. 16 ranked Milwaukee School of Engineering at the MSOE Athletic Field on Monday afternoon. Game one finished 4-3 and while the Pioneers were shutout 5-0 in game two. 

In total, the Pioneers (1-3) tallied 14 hits, three runs, and two errors on the day while the Raiders (5-0) combined for 20 hits, nine runs, and one error.

The teams traded hot first innings with UW-Platteville jumping out to a 3-0 lead in game one and the Raiders pulling out to a 4-0 lead in game two. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, they were unable to duplicate MSOE's comeback in the 7^th inning of game one and suffered the loss in both contests to leave MSOE undefeated.

Catcher Rachel Plautz led the day at the plate for the Pioneers going 4-6 against the Raiders with two doubles.

The Pioneers opened the day on fire tallying five hits and three runs in the first inning. With two outs, the scoring started when Shannon Gaul tripled down the right field line to score Cassandra Laabs and Alejandra Ochoa. Gaul scored the next at bat when Angela Laabs singled up the middle and give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

The Raiders were able to tack on two runs in the bottom of the 3^rd off a walk with bases loaded and a single to first base. Only three Raiders got on base in the next three innings, but with no outs in the bottom of the 7^th, MSOE grounded out to first to score one run and tie the game. The Raiders followed it up with a single and run scored on a throwing error to end the game 4-3.

Ashton Hoeppner started and suffered the loss in game one pitching just over six innings. Hoeppner struck out three, walked two and surrendered nine hits and four runs with three runs earned.  Relief pitcher Lorrin Pondo was credited the win and pitched just over three innings, striking out five and walking three Pioneers.

In game two, MSOE totaled five hits and four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a commanding 4-0 lead. The Raiders extended their lead by one in the bottom of the 5^th off an error to give the final 5-0 in game two.

Claire Bakkestuen started game two and surrendered the loss allowing six hits and four runs in two innings. Abby Burns relieved Bakkestuen and finished the day in the circle for Pioneers rounding up five strikeouts while allowing five hits and one run in four innings. Sarah Grossman earned the win in game two and struck out two Pioneers and gave up six hits.

UW-Platteville has a busy week and will take a short break before traveling to Coe College on Wednesday, March 24 with game one of the double header set to start at 2 p.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.