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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Kristin Haider
Jed Carlson-Superior Telegram

Softball David Nelson

Pioneer Bats Doom Yellowjackets

Kristen Haider
Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

UW-Platteville 8, Yellowjackets 0
 
It's about that time of year to bust out the shorts and t-shirts as the fresh smell of spring approaches the Midwest.  One would think at least.  However, the Yellowjackets got the experience of ditching the treacherous winter weather back in Superior in exchange for gorgeous 50-degree clear sky weather in Platteville on Saturday afternoon.   The Yellowjackets, who defeated UW-Platteville 4-0 on March 21 in Fort Myers, Fla., had a taste of what it took to outscore the Pioneers.  The early look didn't do any favors for the Yellowjackets in the opening WIAC series of 2014, falling 8-0 in both contests.
 
The Yellowjackets struggle to put the bat on the ball was evident from the start of game one and UW-Platteville had that in their crosshairs.  It only took the Pioneers one swing of the bat to give them the lead for good.  That took place in the first inning when MJ Patten reached on an infield single. This made way for Lisa Karau, who blistered a home run over the center field fence to give the Pioneers the early 2-0 lead.
 
The Yellowjackets' pitching and defense held their own until a fourth inning that saw the Pioneers come up with five straight RBI singles to put the icing on the cake.  Things got started when Haley Salazar, Stacy Martin, and Katie Huss came up with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases.  It was a merry go round from there when Becca Lowe, Patten, Karau and Carley Rote produced RBI singles to widen the Pioneer lead to 6-0.  Chelsey Walker put the game to bed with a two RBI single to make the score 8-0.
 
Nicolle Gross (Coleraine, Minn./Greenway) took the loss on the rubber for the Yellowjackets.  She surrendered eight runs on ten hits in the complete game effort. 
 
UW-Platteville 8, Yellowjackets 0
 
Things proved to be no different for the Yellowjackets in game two.  Lack of hitting and one crack of the bat sealed the Yellowjackets' fate.  The Pioneers got things rolling in the third inning when Huss bunted for a base hit followed by a Patten walk to put runners on first and second base.  Karau prevailed with a three-run bomb to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.
 
A big four run fourth inning proved to be huge for UW-Platteville.  Salazar reached on an error, followed by a Rachael Strong walk put runners on first and second for Huss, who was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  This paved the way for a Lowe three-RBI double, scoring Salazar, Strong, and Huss to extend the Pioneer lead to 6-0.  Lowe eventually came around to score on a Karau single to make the score 7-0.
 
UW-Platteville put the game to rest in the fifth inning when Salazar led off with a single.  She later came around to score when Lowe singled to give the Pioneers an 8-0 victory via the eight run mercy rule. 

Sarah Hendrickson (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) got the pitching start for the Yellowjackets.  She took the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits.  Gross finished the game in the fourth inning, allowing two runs on four hits.
 
The Yellowjackets (17-6, 0-2 WIAC) will return to action tomorrow (Apr. 5) at UW-La Crosse for a WIAC doubleheader.  The first pitch is at 12:00 p.m.
 
 
 
 
 
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