PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point baseball team (10-4, 2-0) swept UW-Platteville (6-12, 0-2) on Saturday to open WIAC play. The Pointers extended their win streak to five games with the twin bill victories.
Freshman
Payton Nelson (Wausau, Wis. /West) racked up four RBIs and went 3-for-5 on the day. He scored three times and drew three bases on balls.
Tommy Duddleston (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle Institute) collected four hits and scored a run.
Jordan Carlson (Madison, Wis./Madison La Follette) had a pair of RBI in game two. Will Iloncaie also drove in a pair in game two.
Neal Matson (Neillsville, Wis./Neillsville) went 2-for-5 with two RBI in game one.
Game 1 – UWSP 6, UWP 5
The Pioneers plated a pair of runs in the opening inning on three hits, but UWSP limited the damage by recording all three outs of the frame at home plate.
Kyle Mrozinski (Ashwaubenon, Wis./Ashwaubenon) drew the first of four walks on the day to begin the bottom of the first. Two batters later,
Ryan Stanicek (Loves Park, Ill./Boylan Catholic) singled and
Lucas Luedtke (River Falls, Wis./River Falls ) drew a walk to load the bases. Nelson singled to center to plate two and knot the game at 2-2.
In the third, Luedtke and Nelson drew consecutive bases on balls to start the inning. Matson singled to left with an RBI single to give UWSP the lead. Two batters later,
Christian Zamudio (Kenosha, Wis. /Tremper) singled to left giving the Pointers a 4-2 advantage.
UW-Platteville scored an unearned run in the fourth and the fifth innings to tie the game at 4-4.
In the sixth, Mrozinski drew another walked and moved the second on a passed ball. Duddleston singled to put runners on the corners. Stanicek followed with a bunt single to regain the lead for UWSP.
The lead would be short-lived as UWP plated a run in the seventh for a 5-5 game.
The game remained tied at five-all until the bottom of the ninth. With two away, Nelson doubled to left center. Matson followed with a single to left center for the walk-off win.
Ben Miller (Union Grove, Wis./Union Grove) tossed 7.0 strong innings in the start. He struck out three while allowing just one walk.
Drew Spaeth (Stratford, Wis./Stratford) pitched the final 2.0 with four punch-outs to earn the win.
Game 2 – UWSP 8, UWP 7
The Pioneers got on the board in the top of the first on an unearned run for a 1-0 lead.
Iloncaie began the third with a single. Mrozinski walked and both runners moved into scoring position on a sac bunt by Duddleston. Stanicek walked to load the bases and Luedtke tied the game with an RBI single. Nelson drove in two runs on the next play as UWSP took a 3-1 lead.
The Pointers added to the lead in the fifth. Duddleston began the rally with a single up the middle. Stanicek was hit by a pitch and, two batters later, Nelson drew a walk to load the bases. With two down, Carlson singled to right to plate two runs.
Ben Faga (La Crosse, Wis./Central) added a RBI single and Iloncaie capped the inning with a two-run double for an 8-1 lead.
The Pioneers closed the gap with six runs in the seventh inning with the benefit of seven walks, a hit-by-pitch, two UWSP errors and just one hit.
Alex Stodola (Coleman, Wis./Coleman) pitched the final 2.0 innings to pick up his fourth save of the season.
Nathan Mulzer (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) started and tossed 6.0 innings with 11 strikeouts to earn the win.
The Pointers and Pioneers conclude the series on Sunday with a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader in Platteville.
