Posted April 29, 2009
The last weekend of the baseball season is always something special, with senior day, green grass, and (usually) warm weather. UW-Platteville ensured its final series would also include something extra special: playoff baseball atmosphere.
UW-Platteville beat UW-Whitewater 3-2 Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader, keeping the Pioneers in a fourth-place tie in the league. The front-running Warhawks, who finished off the April 22 suspended game with a 7-5 win, won Wednesday's second game, 5-3.
The Warhawks finish the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season with a 15-9 record and are assured of a WIAC playoff berth. The Pioneers, in a three-way tie for the fourth and final spot at 9-11, play host to second-place UW-Stevens Point (13-7) Saturday and Sunday in noon doubleheaders. Third-place UW-Oshkosh (12-8) plays UW-Superior (5-15) in a four-game set, while the other fourth-place teams, UW-La Crosse and UW-Stout, square off four times.
Brett Benesh homered in the fourth inning of Wedndesday's first full game, and after the Warhawks scored twice in the fifth, Lee Hawkins singled home two runs to help UWP re-gain the lead. Levi Ney reached on an error, and Jason Jacobson was hit by a pitch, setting the plate for Hawkins.
Wil Osmanski, in relief for Justin Crotty, set down the side in the sixth and seventh. After yielding a lead-off single to Ben Kuhlman in the eighth, Osmanski gave way to ironman Joe Lange, who retired all six batters he faced for the save.
Lange returned to throw a complete game in the nightcap, giving up just one earned run. Three UWP errors in the seventh, however, led to four Warhawk runs and the 5-3 UWW win. Jacobson had three hits and two RBIs to pace the Pioneers.
The day began with the ninth inning to complete the April 22nd doubleheader. Wil Osmanski, who had homered a week ago, was placed on first because he had singled with no outs in the ninth when it became too dark to play. On Wednesday, the Warhawks brought on ace Aaron Dott, who hit a batter, but closed out the game for the save.
The Warhawks are 23-12 overall, and the Pioneers are now 19-17.
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