Pioneers Shutout Blugolds in Six Innings After Being Edged in Game One

Photo courtesy of Chico La Barbera

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team split with the Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire in Friday's regular season finale. After a walk-off 5-4 Blugold victory in the opener, the Pioneers answered back with 9-0 shutout (six innings) in the nightcap.

In the opener, UW-Platteville (16-16, 7-7 WIAC) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the second inning. The four-run advantage started with an RBI double by junior Rachel Plautz followed by sophomore Claire Bakkestuen sending one over the fences to score two more runs in the first inning. Senior Alejandra Ochoa's RBI single in the second frame extended the lead to 4-0.

UW-Eau Claire (22-16, 8-6 WIAC) narrowed the lead to just one run by the end of the second frame and by the end of three innings, the Blugolds had tied the game 4-4. The game remained locked at four runs apiece, but a walk-off RBI single gave UW-Eau Claire the win in game one of the WIAC doubleheader.

The bats came alive in the nightcap and the Pioneers answered the Blugolds' walk-off win with four runs of their own in the first inning. Plautz led off the scoring once again with a single up the middle for an RBI. The Pioneers loaded the bases and UW-Eau Claire walked Angela Laabs for an RBI and 2-0 lead with one out. Laabs was followed by junior Riley Kelsch who singled through the left side for another run scored. Senior Haili Cota drove in the final run of the inning with a single to short stop for a 4-0 lead.

The Pioneers tacked on another run in the third when junior pinch runner Marley Rowe stole home to extend the lead to 5-0.

Plautz tallied another RBI and extended the lead to 6-0 in the sixth with a single through the right side. Bakkestuen followed that up with her second homerun of the day to score three more runs for a 9-0 lead. The Pioneers turned a double play and closed out the day with a ground out to shortstop Kelsch for the final out and run-rule victory.

Senior Ashton Hoeppner (7-9) pitched a complete game two for the win and struck out three, walked two and surrendered four hits. Hoeppner started off the day in the circle for the Pioneers and struck out three in 2.1 innings while walking four and giving up five hits and four runs (three earned). Bakkestuen (5-4) threw relief in the opener and suffered the loss. Bakkestuen struck out three and gave up seven hits and one run in 4 innings.

Julia Counard (2-1) claimed the victory in game one and Madi Zerr (7-7) suffered the loss in the nightcap for UW-Eau Claire. Not a single Pioneer struck out in the doubleheader.  

UW-Platteville currently sits in sixth place in the WIAC standings. The Pioneers will travel for the WIAC Championship quarterfinal (presented by Culver's) on Tuesday afternoon. Saturday's doubleheader between UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls must be completed prior to final seeding for the eight-team post-season tournament. UW-Oshkosh has clinched at least a share of the regular-season title and will be the #1 seed. The Titans will play #8 seed UW-Stout. The outcome of Saturday's doubleheader between the Warhawks and Falcons will determine the #2-#7 seeds.  Click here for the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver's) for more information.