Pioneers Picked Fifth In WIAC Preseason Poll

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team was selected to finish fifth in the conference, according to the 2024 WIAC Preseason Poll conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

UW-Whitewater, coming off its eighth regular season title in the past nine seasons, was picked to finish atop the conference. UW-La Crosse came in second in the poll after winning the WIAC Tournament in 2023 and making its seventh NCAA appearance, while UW-Oshkosh rounded out the top three.

Head Coach Becca Runde will lead the program for the fifth straight season after going 25-16 in 2023 with a 7-7 mark in conference play.

The Pioneers will bring back 18 letterwinners from last year's team, including a 2023 All-WIAC selection in Taylor Roughen. The junior split time between pitching and shortstop and finished sixth in the WIAC with a 1.95 ERA across 104.1 innings. At the plate, Roughen hit .295 with 15 RBI across 105 at-bats.

Junior Jordan Johnson also returns after pitching and playing first base for the Pioneers last season. Johnson hit .290 and finished third on the team with 20 RBI while also making 10 appearances in the circle.

UW-Platteville will be set behind the plate as well with senior Payton Marvin returning after playing in all 41 games last season. Marvin posted career-highs in every offensive category and was third on the team in extra base hits (8) and first in stolen bases (6).

The Pioneers begin the 2024 season with four games in Peoria, Illinois in late February before playing eight games in Florida in the middle of March. The home opener will be on Sunday, March 24 against Simpson, with WIAC play beginning April 13 at UW-River Falls.

The full WIAC Preseason Poll can be found HERE.