The UW-Platteville baseball team won three of four games over the weekend against UW-Stout. On March 29 the Pioneers pitched a shutout in the first game and had a tough come from behind victory in the nightcap. On March 30, UW-P showed its defense in game one with a dramatic finish. The team struggled in the final game and the Blue Devils prevailed 10-7. The weekend was a bounce back from a disappointing Spring Break.

Photograph by Emily Yttri
UW-P senior Jerod Haxton rounds third base during the Pioneers March 29 matchup with UW-Stout. The Pioneers won three of four games against the Blue Devils and face off against the Eagles of UW-La Crosse on April 5-6 in La Crosse.

Joe Lange threw a complete game shutout in the home opener. Lange held the Blue Devils who were hitting .348 to four hits in seven innings. The offense put up plenty of run support bringing in 10 runs on 12 hits. Mike Flood, Mike Kuhn and Lee Hawkins all came through with doubles in the second inning putting the Pioneers up 2-0. With the Pioneers up 4-0 in the third, Flood blasted a three run homer to deep centerfield stretching the lead to 7-0. The Pioneers add two more runs in the sixth and the 10 run rule ended the game early in the seventh inning after a Brett Benesh single to bring in the final score.

The second game of the day was a bit closer then the opening game. The Pioneers gave up a 7-3 lead and were trailing 13-11 in the ninth inning. Despite being outhit in the game 19 to 10, the Pioneers pulled off a 14-13 victory in the ninth inning with a clutch two-out, two-run double by Flood.

The game-winning double was set up by a Nick Aplin single, a walk to Jerod Haxton and a throwing error by UW-Stout on a Ross Bennett ground ball. The error scored Aplin and moved Haxton and Bennett into scoring position for Flood.

Haxton tied a Pioneer record, scoring five runs in the game.

“We have a lot of depth and a lot of talent in all positions and that is something we haven’t had in recent years,” Ross Bennett, a senior centerfielder, said. “We feel we can beat any team in our conference.”

Pioneers took one of two in their double header against UW-Stout on Sunday. Catcher Matt Paulus gunned down the Blue Devils’ Ryan Stace trying to steal second base for the final out in the 7-5 victory for the Pioneers. The game saw three lead changes and the victory went to the Pioneers because of their defense and ability to strand Stout baserunners.

UW-Stout was able to win the final game of the series on Sunday. The game started with an early 9-1 lead for the Blue Devils. The Pioneers were able to close the gap, but were unable to complete the come back. The game ended with the final score 10-7 in favor of Stout.

“We’re getting better and better every day, we are average at everything right now, but it is nice to get outside and play on our field,” said head coach Eric Frese.

The Pioneers are now 9-7 overall and 3-1 in the WIAC. The team started the season with a hard-fought 5-6 record during their Spring Break road trip. The defense was a main concern for the Pioneers during Spring Break along with inconsistent play. These are problems the Pioneers hope to eliminate now that they can practice outside for the first time in eight weeks and they feel prepared for the season. The Pioneers placed fourth in conference last season and hope to make the playoffs after a successful 2008 season.

“We needed to perform in both games of the double-header, making adjustments after the first game and staying focused for the second game,” head coach Eric Frese said.