Pioneers Win Second Straight In Florida

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville baseball team (3-4) won its second game at the Studer's Blue Wahoo Challenge on Sunday with a 9-3 win over Spalding (10-3) in Pensacola, Florida.

Senior Mitchell McLaughlin scored on a passed ball in the top half of the second to give the Pioneers a one-run lead. In the fourth, freshman Spencer Robertson drove in one with a double to increase the lead, but Spalding got one back in the bottom half of the inning to make it 2-1.

UW-Platteville scored twice in the sixth on an error and an RBI double by sophomore Slate Higa that scored Robertson from first base. The Golden Eagles answered with two of their own in the bottom half of the sixth to remain within one run.

The Pioneers pulled away in the final three innings, scoring five times to win 9-3. In the seventh, sophomore Justin Fago singled to score one run and later scored on a wild pitch. Robertson scored the first run in the eighth on a wild pitch and sophomore Chris Tsouras drove in another with a single. UW-Platteville scored its final run in the ninth as Robertson continued his strong game with an RBI single.

Sophomore Brady Hoppert (1-2) collected his first win of the season with a complete game performance. He allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out four.

The Pioneers finished with 12 hits in the game, with four players tallying multiple hits. Robertson finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the offense. Higa, Tsouras, and senior Zach McCoy each recorded a pair of hits. UW-Platteville totaled five extra-base hits and stole a pair of bases in the game.

UW-Platteville faces Grinnell at 10 a.m. on Monday in its third game in Pensacola.

*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.