Three Pioneers Earn All-WIAC Honors

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Three members of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team earned a spot on the 2023 All-WIAC Team, while freshman Melissa Dietz was also tabbed Kwik Trip Position Player of the Year and Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year. Senior Claire Bakkestuen and sophomore Taylor Roughen joined Dietz on the All-WIAC Team, while junior Kendall Drake was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Dietz had a fantastic freshman campaign, as she finished second in the WIAC in batting average (.469) on-base percentage (.523), and slugging percentage (.857). The Reedsburg native was fourth in the conference with eight home runs and paced the Pioneers with 12 doubles and 25 RBI. Dietz crossed the plate 26 times for UW-Platteville, good for second on the team, and struck out just eight times compared to 12 walks. Dietz recorded 14 multi-hit games, including a pair of four-hit games against Minnesota-Morris and UW-Whitewater.

Bakkestuen was named to the All-WIAC team for the second straight season after putting together one of the strongest seasons of her career. The senior went 12-7 in the circle with a career-best 2.19 ERA and 116 strikeouts, which tied for second in the conference. The Forest Lake, Minnesota native tossed a career-high 118.0 innings with six complete games for the Pioneers. At the plate, Bakkestuen posted a .328 batting average along with a .433 on-base and .560 slugging percentage. She totaled six home runs and 22 RBI while drawing 22 walks across 41 games played. In the Pioneers win over UW-Stevens Point in the WIAC Tournament last week, Bakkestuen held the Pointers scoreless over seven innings and provided the lone run of the game on a solo home run to help UW-Platteville win 1-0.

Roughen was sixth in the WIAC with a 1.95 ERA across 104.1 innings in her first season with UW-Platteville. The Lake Mills native tied for the team lead in wins with 12 and added a pair of saves while also throwing seven complete games. The sophomore struck out 75 batters while walking just 10 in her 26 appearances on the mound. At the plate, Roughen hit .295 to go along with .356 on-base and .381 slugging percentages. She scored 20 times and drove in 15 while connecting on one home run on the season. Roughen struck out a season-high nine in a complete game shutout win over Westminster (Mo.) on March 24.

Drake scored 12 runs for the Pioneers in 29 games played. The Florence, Arizona native went 2-for-7 at the plate, with both hits resulting in doubles. The junior drove in three runs and stole one base on the year.