Pioneers Earn Split with No. 21 Pointers

PLATTEVILLE, Wis.  -  The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team (20-8, 3-1) overcame a 7-2 loss in the opening game Wednesday afternoon by defeating No. 21 UW-Stevens Point (23-5, 2-2) 3-1 at the UW-Platteville Softball Complex.

Tied 2-2 through five innings of the first game, the Pioneers got in a jam in the sixth when UW-Stevens Point opened the frame with a home run and followed it up with three-straight base hits, scoring a second run. UW-Platteville got one out, but a double to center field scored two more runs, pushing the Pointers' lead to 6-2. UW-Platteville's last six batters of the game were unable to get on base and UW-Stevens Point scored another run in the seventh to finish the first game with a five-run advantage. 

Both teams' offenses struggled to build momentum in the second game until senior Taylor Roughen dropped a double into right center to start off the third inning for UW-Platteville. One out later, Roughen scored a run off a single to center field by sophomore Mia Savage. Sophomore Allison Peters advanced a runner to third off a single to right and the second run scored on an error by the shortstop. The Pioneers led 2-0 after three frames, but UW-Stevens Point cut the Pioneers' advantage in half with one run scored in the fourth. The two-run lead returned in the bottom of the fourth off another RBI single by Savage. In the final three innings, UW-Platteville allowed only two batters on base in order to preserve the 3-1 victory with freshman Morgan Erickson recording three straight third-out strikeouts. 

Freshman Bentley Cutts started the second game in the circle and struck out two, walked one and allowed one hit in three innings. Erickson (7-2) picked up the win pitching the final four innings, where she tallied six strikeouts and walked one while allowing no hits. 

UW-Platteville will continue its stint at home on Saturday when they host UW-Stout for another WIAC doubleheader starting at 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.