Pioneers drop pair in Florida

WINTER HAVEN, FLA.  – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team suffered two close losses on Monday during the team's spring break trip in Florida. The Pioneers (5-3) first lost a low-scoring 2-0 contest to Luther (11-2) before dropping a 4-3 game against Bates (2-1). 

In the opener against Luther, the Norse took an early one run lead in the top of the first off a single up the middle by Riley Sauser to bring in one run. Luther doubled its lead in the seventh as the Pioneers were unable answer the early run with one of their own.  

In the circle, Kendra Cooper (6-1) took the win throwing a complete game, allowing four hits and striking out three and walking one. Senior Claire Bakkestuen (3-2) suffered the loss after striking out four, walking two, surrendering seven hits and one run in six innings. Sophomore Taylor Roughen closed out the game and allowed two hits and one run. 

In game two, UW-Platteville fell just short of a comeback after Bates took an early lead of three after three innings. Bates got on the board early with a run in the bottom of the first and added two more in the third, scoring one run off a double to deep left center. 

Roughen's SAC fly ran in freshman Melissa Dietz to narrow the deficit, but Bates answered back with another run in the bottom of the fourth. 

Trailing 4-1, and with runners on first and third, Roughen brought in Dietz once again on a SAC fly in the sixth. Sophomore Alexandria Davis followed Roughen up and drove in another run with a single up the middle to cut Bates' lead to 4-3. The Pioneers were unable to drive in the tying run before the final out was recorded. 

At the plate, Bakkestuen and Dietz each tallied two hits to lead the Pioneers.  

Roughen (3-1) pitched the first 2.2 innings and struck out two batters and walked one while surrendering five hits and two earned runs. Dalaney Rankin (1-0) pitched six innings and recorded two strikeouts and six hits surrendered. Katherine Merisotis relieved Rankin in the seventh and got the save.  

The Pioneers face Colby and Tufts on Tuesday in the next day of the team's spring break trip.