Pioneers split day two of Peoria Invite

PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team (3-1) defeated Edgewood College (3-3) 3-1 Friday morning before dropping the second game 4-1 to Elmhurst (3-0) at the Peoria Invite. 

The Pioneers got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning when senior Claire Bakkestuen singled to left field, running in freshman Cali Storms. Sophomore Alexandria Davis added another run in the fourth inning and freshman Greta Volkening added an insurance run (unearned) in the fifth to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead going into the sixth inning. Edgewood cut the lead by one off a double to left field with two outs, but UW-Platteville secured the final out with the tying runs stranded on second and third bases. 

Sophomore Taylor Roughen (2-0) pitched 5.2 innings and recorded six strikeouts while allowing seven hits, one run and one batter walked. Sophomore Jordan Johnson got the save and tallied one strikeout against the Eagles.

Against Elmhurst, the Pioneers and Blue Jays remained locked 1-1 going into the fifth inning. Julia Noga drilled one to centerfield for two RBI. Elmhurst added one more run, still in the fifth inning, to extend their lead to 4-1. The Pioneers were unable to get a runner past first before the final out of the game. 

Bakkestuen (1-1) started game two in the circle for the Pioneers and pitched four innings, striking out five batters and allowing six hits and four runs. Johnson relieved Bakkestuen and allowed one hit and was relived an inning later by freshman Carlie Jo Brownlee who struck out one Blue Jay. 

The Pioneers will take a break and return to action on Sunday, March 19 for their first game of their Spring Break trip to Winter Haven, Florida against Minnesota Morris at 8 a.m.

*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.