Softball splits twin bill at Stevens Point

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team split its first of three conference doubleheaders  this week at UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday. The Pointers (16-14, 1-7 WIAC) took game one 11-7 while the Pioneers (12-14, 4-4 WIAC) finished the day with a 7-4 victory.

In the nightcap, UW-Platteville went into the 7^th inning with a 7-2 lead after banking three runs in the 3^rd and four more in the 6^th inning. Jordan Johnson drove in the first three runs off a double to right center. Danielle Trumbo doubled and batted in the first run of the 6^th with Rachel Plautz going yard soon after to plate three more runs.

While the big plays made noise in the dugout, it was the final play of the game that the team and fans excited the most. The Pointers put two unearned runs on the board in the 7^th leaving bases loaded with two outs. The next at-bat hit one through the right side to score what would have been two more runs to make it a one-run game and two on base, but an illegal substitution call changed the final play to the third out and ended the game with the Pioneers walking off the field with the 7-4 victory.

The win was a bounce-back from game one where the Pioneers held the advantage with 13-12 hits, but two homeruns and a double down the right line put five runs on the board that were too much to overcome.

Plautz homered in both games and pocketed five RBIs while Johnson tallied four RBI.

Johnson (6-1) also took home the win throwing a complete second game, striking out three, walking tow and surrendering 10 hits. Claire Bakkestuen (4-5) suffered the loss in game one and surrendered four hits.

The Pioneers will drive home to get some sleep and hop back on the bus in the morning to head up to UW-La Crosse for two more games starting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27.