Posted March 14, 2008
UW-Platteville and Maryville (Mo.) would have made Ernie Banks proud.
The Pioneers and host Saints followed the advice of Mr. Cub, whose motto was "Let's Play Two", and turned their scheduled single game into a doubleheader, which the Pioneers won 5-1 and 8-6 Friday night.
"It was a beautiful night, and with 80 percent chance of rain for Satuday, so we decided to go ahead and play twice," said Pioneer Manager Eric Frese.
Aaron Daniels threw six innings of shutout ball in the opener, and Mike Flood delivered a two-run single in the fourth to key the victory. Gabe Neitzel and Joe Lange added run-scoring hits in the Pioneers' fifth inning. Daniels scattered six hits and struck out four in his six innings, while Kyle Larson threw a one-hit seventh inning. Both Flood and Ross Bennett had three hits in the game.
The Pioneers rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to complete the sweep, with Steve Bonkamp delivering a bases-loaded triple. Neitzel and Nick Aplin each had RBI singles in the sixth, then Bomkamp's drive to center brought Neitzel, Aplin and Wade Axelson home, turning a 5-4 deficit into a 7-5 lead. Jerod Haxton followed with an infield single to score Bomkamp.
Kyle Kubatzke pitched a perfect sixth inning for his first collegiate win, while Kyle Brudos earned the save.
The Pioneers improved to 4-2 with the doubleheader sweep.
"We're still getting our feet wet, being outside for the first time," Frese said. "We're not really hitting the ball well, although the bats are starting to come around. Our pitchers are keeping us in games and doing a great job. We'll keep getting better."
The Pioneers are scheduled to play two against Cornell Saturday in St. Louis and two at Westminster, Mo. Sunday, weather permitting. (Note: Saturday's games were eventually canceled.)
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