Pioneers and Pointers split to open WIAC play
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – After battling the weather all weekend, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team faced-off with the UW-Stevens Point Pointers in a pair of games to open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. In the doubleheader, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, the two teams took it to nine innings before UW-Stevens Point (14-7, 1-1 WIAC) claimed game one 2-1. UW-Platteville (6-6, 1-1 WIAC) brushed off the late loss and took game two 5-3 for the split with the Pointers.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wis.-Stevens Point
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 1 |
|
Wis.-Platteville
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wis.-Stevens Point
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3 |
|
Wis.-Platteville
|
0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 3 | 0 |
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – After battling the weather all weekend, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team faced-off with the UW-Stevens Point Pointers in a pair of games to open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. In the doubleheader, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, the two teams took it to nine innings before UW-Stevens Point (14-7, 1-1 WIAC) claimed game one 2-1. UW-Platteville (6-6, 1-1 WIAC) brushed off the late loss and took game two 5-3 for the split with the Pointers.
In game one, the Pointers were first on the board in the 3rd inning when Sammy Buerger singled with one out and bases loaded to score one run. The Pioneers were able to get out of the jam when senior Ashton Hoeppner struck out the next batter with the follwing Pointer grounding out to first base.
The Pioneers answered back as Angela Laabs singled to left field to run in senior Haili Cota and knot the score 1-1 after three innings. The score remained 1-1 with the Pioneers' most promising opportunity to take the lead coming in the bottom of the 6th after UW-Stevens Point intentionally walked sophomore Claire Bakkestuen which placed runners on first and second with one out. Sophomore Amanda Stanczuk pinch hit and fired one deep to centerfield, but an impressive diving catch by UW-Stevens Point's Maddie Candre gave two outs and left the game tied 1-1.
The Pointers put a stop to extra innings in the top of the 9th as it was centerfielder Candre who doubled to left field and an overthrow at home gave the Pointers a one run lead. The Pioneers were unable to answer back in the bottom of the inning and UW-Stevens Point claimed the win in the first contest.
Makenna Tkach (9-3) took the win after starting and ending the game in the circle for the Pointers. Tkach struck out four, allowed seven hits and one earned run in 6.2 innings. Hoeppner (3-3) suffered the loss after pitching all 9 innings. Hoeppner struck out five, walked four and gave up nine hits.
Out for blood after being edged in game one, the Pioneers were first on the board as Bakkestuen nailed one down the left field line for one RBI in the 2nd inning.
UW-Stevens Point answered with one run in the top of the 3rd, but the Pioneers took advantage of the Pointers' mistakes after a catching error by the catcher at home allowed for two runs to score followed by one more run with the next at-bat.
Leading 4-1, senior Abby Burns singled for an RBI to extend the lead to 5-1 after four innings. UW-Stevens Point shortened the lead by two with a triple to right field in the top of the 6th, but three batters and three outs later in the 7th gave UW-Platteville the win and the Pointers were forced to go home giving up four unearned runs in game two.
Burns (1-1) pitched 5.1 innings for the win and stuck out four, walked two, and surrendered 10 hits and three runs. Hoeppner returned to the circle in game two for the save and struck out one in 1.2 innings. MacKenzie Hornish (2-1) suffered the loss for the Pointers and walked two and gave up two hit and four runs.
The Pioneers will return to action at UW-Whitewater when UW-Platteville takes on the Warhawks on Wednesday, April 14 with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.