Pioneers split on first day of WIAC Tournament

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team split the opening day of the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's). The six-team, double-elimination tournament is hosted by the #1 seed UW-Whitewater. The Pioneers (25-15) defense shined all day as they defeated UW-Stevens Point 1-0 in the opening game of the tournament before falling 3-0 in game three to UW-Whitewater (26-9). 

Claire Bakkestuen homered in game one to score the Pioneers' game-winning and single run of the day while also pitching all, but one inning between both games. The senior faced 48 batters and totaled 182 pitches across 12 innings striking out 11, walking four and allowing 10 hits and two runs. Bakkestuen's homerun brings her career total to 19 which ties for second place with Wendi Siedschlag in the program record book.  

Against UW-Stevens Point, Bakkestuen knocked one out of the park to right center with her first at-bat of the day for the Pioneers to go ahead 1-0 in the second inning.  

The Pointers got one hit off Bakkestuen in the third before going hitless for the next three. The Pioneers offense worked to extend their lead, but left two runners on in the third and three stranded in the fourth to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. UW-Platteville led 1-0 after six innings, UW-Stevens Point tallied two singles to place runners on first and second with one out, but a strikeout swinging followed by a pop up to shortstop secured the win. 

Bakkestuen (12-5) pitched the complete first game striking out six, walking two while allowing six hits. 

Against UW-Whitewater, both teams kept each other in check for over four innings. Teams went three up and three down through 1.5 innings and the Warhawks put up the first hit of the day in the bottom of the second before three straight outs. Both teams went three up, three down in the third and would have again in the fourth inning if it wasn't for an error by UW-Whitewater's pitcher.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Warhawks scored on a wild pitch and doubled it in the same inning off a single up the middle. 

The Pioneers built what looked like a comeback in the making in the top of the sixth and got runners on second and third, but were unable bring them home. The Warhawks added one more run on a double to left center after freshman Jaena Michalak relieved Bakkestuen in the sixth. 

Bakkestuen (12-6) added five more strikeouts in the second game and walked two while allowing four hits and two runs. 

Next up, the Pioneers will face UW-Oshkosh at 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the van Steenderen Softball Complex. UW-Oshkosh entered the tournament as the #2 seed and fell 9-5 in nine innings to UW-La Crosse in the final game of day one and the only upset of the day.