Pioneers split twin bill with Augustana

ROCK ISLAND, ILL. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Augustana College on Wednesday evening. The Pioneers (17-10) claimed the first game 7-3 before the Vikings (14-13) held on for a 2-1 victory in the nightcap. 

The Pioneers got things moving in the first inning with an RBI single by sophomore Taylor Roughen. The Vikings knotted the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly, but UW-Platteville pulled ahead for good in the fourth thanks to a pair of RBI singles. 

UW-Platteville added another run in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead, but the Vikings attempted a comeback in the sixth inning, drawing within one run of the Pioneers. A single by freshman Melissa Dietz scored one run in the seventh and was followed up by senior Claire Bakkestuen's homerun which sealed the fate of the first game with a 7-3 victory. 

Bakkestuen (8-4) struck out two, walked one and surrendered one hit and one run in four innings. Roughen (Sv, 2) relieved the senior and struck out two, walked one and allowed three hits in three innings. 

Augustana was first on the board in the second game after scoring an unearned run with two outs in the second inning. The Vikings doubled their lead three innings later with another unearned run scored. 

Dietz sliced Augustana's lead in half with a homerun to left center to lead off the sixth inning, but the Pioneers were unable to catch the Vikings early lead. 

Roughen (9-4) pitched the first four innings striking out four, walking none and allowing five hits. Freshman Jaena Michalak relieved Roughen in the circle and struck out one, walked none and allowed three hits in two innings. 

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday, April 22 when they host UW-River Falls in a WIAC doubleheader at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex. Game one is scheduled for 2 p.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.