Warriors Drop Non-Conference Contest To UW-Platteville

GLENDALE, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Senior Nolan Hodgins (Caledonia, Wis.) belted his second homerun of the season, but a four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as Wisconsin Lutheran College dropped an 8-3 non-conference contest to UW-Platteville on Tuesday at MSOE Raiders Stadium.

Following two quick outs to open the game, the Pioneers capitalized on a Warriors error to start a two-run rally and take an early lead. WLC cut the deficit in half in its half of the first when sophomore Aiden Montgomery (St. Louis, Mo.) came around to score on a wild pitch but left a runner in scoring position to close the inning. After trading scoreless frames, UWP pushed its advantage to 4-1 on a two-run homerun in the third. With two outs in the third, Hodgins singled to right field to plate freshman Ryan Pierquet (Chilton, Wis.), bringing Wisconsin Lutheran within 4-2. UW-Platteville broke the game open in the fourth, scoring four runs on three hits with four stolen bases.

The Pioneers threatened again with a pair of runners in scoring position, but freshman Malachi Kramer (Appleton, Wis.) escaped the seventh inning scoreless to keep the game 8-2. In the bottom half of the frame, freshman Colin Nigl (Neenah, Wis.) led off with a double that was followed by a UWP error, but the visitors escaped the jam with a pair of punchouts. The Warriors added a tally in the eighth on Hodgins' solo blast, cutting the margin to 8-3.
 
Hodgins went 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI and a homerun. Pierquet and sophomore Ian Rintelman (Muskego, Wis.) added two hits apiece for WLC. Kramer, senior Jaime Miner (Erie, Ill.), and junior Lucas Oswald (Muskego, Wis.) combined to allow just one run in 6.0 innings out of the bullpen.

Anthony Massa led UW-Platteville (5-3) offensively with a 4-for-5 performance, while Trinity Beland and Sam Meidenbauer added two hits each. Brady Hoppert earned the win after throwing 5.0 innings, giving up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

Wisconsin Lutheran (3-8) opens conference play on Saturday when it travels to Rockford (8-3). First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. at RU Baseball Field. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.