The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team made their 2013 debut at the Softball Showcase of Hope to Benefit St. Jude on March 2 at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
Even with the team ending with a 1-3 record on the weekend, senior catcher Molly Rice said the weekend was a good learning experience and that she saw many positive things for the team. Rice is also optimistic for future games, and she believes her team has good potential in games ahead.
After a tough weekend in the season debut, losing both of her starts, senior pitcher Melissa Anderson expressed hope for the rest of the season.
“Only up from here,” Anderson said.
UW-Platteville lost 10-3 to Rhodes College on Saturday’s first game as Anderson allowed 15 hits and 10 runs in the loss.
The Pioneers bounced back in their second game March 2, defeating Indiana’s DePauw University 8–1. Junior pitcher Jeni Freiburger picked up the win, striking out five players in five innings, and sophomore designated hitter Lisa Karau paced the offense, going 2-3 with two RBIs.
On Sunday, the Pioneers had a rematch with DePauw, falling this time 5-2 as Anderson picked up the loss.
UW-Platteville closed the weekend with another loss in a close, 1-0 rematch against Rhodes. Freiburger pitched four solid innings, but the Pioneer offense was unable to get hits in key spots, leaving eight runners on base throughout the game.
Anderson said that the team had to make an abrupt adjustment from the last five winter months of playing inside on bouncy gym floors at UW-Platteville to playing outside and having a solid dirt field underneath their feet.
Both Anderson and Rice said they believed the team did have several things that they could work on, including stringing hits together and developing as hitters overall.
Pioneer softball will play a double header March 16, at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.