Excellent starting pitching led the UW-Platteville Pioneers’ baseball team to victory in game one of a double header against UW-La Crosse. Game two featured timely hitting in a comeback win as the Pioneers earned the sweep by the scores of 7-4 and 7-6 on April 2.

The Pioneers took control in the second inning with a five-run outburst, including a two-run home run by Wyatt
Molitor. Isaac Bixby provided great length on the mound in his start, going 8.1 innings while striking out seven batters and walking one. Bixby is 1-0 in game decisions so far. Sam Hernandez earned the save, his first of the year. Brady Schmitt fell to 1-1 for UW-La Crosse.

In the game one win, Molitor led the Pioneers with three RBIs. Johnathan Kelso also had a strong game, including a triple and two RBIs.

In game two, UW-Platteville pounded out twelve hits. The Pioneers engineered two three-run rallies in the third and seventh innings in the come-back win.

UW-Platteville’s first rally began with a Kelso solo home run, and a throwing error cut the deficit to 5-4. The score remained until the seventh.

In the seventh, Kelso singled and Jake Wegner walked after a stolen base with one out. Following another Kelso steal, Molitor drove in both runners with a single, giving the Pioneers a 6-5 lead. Two batters later, Ben Espinoza drove in Molitor, making the score 7-5.

The Eagles added a solo homerun from Mac Born in the eighth.

UW-Platteville’s Nate Jennings earned the win over Alex Redman of UW-La Crosse (2-2), improving his record to 1-1. Brady Hoppert secured his first save of the year.

Offensively, Kelso, Molitor and Zach McCoy each had multiple hits, as the Pioneers secured the victory.

The Pioneers improve to 4-8, 2-4 WIAC and UW-La Crosse falls to 9-6, 4-2 WIAC.