PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - On another cold and chilly night the University of Dubuque softball team traveled across the Mississippi River to take on the University of Wisconsin Platteville Pioneers. The Spartans fell in game one 2-0 and in the second game lost 10-3.

Game one featured a pitchers' dual as only two runs were scored in the entire game. Ally Gullette was on the mound for the Spartans. Gullette worked through all six innings only allowing five hits, no earned runs, and four strikeouts. The Pioneers were able to plate a run in the second and fourth inning, both coming off errors. The Spartans out hit the Pioneers by one but were unable to string together consecutive hits with runners in scoring position. Chole Hild went 2-3 with two singles, while Dariann Diorio, Bella Allison, Deanna Salerno, and Megan Croke each recorded one hit in the 2-0 loss.

In game two, the Spartans trailed 5-0 after three innings, before scoring their first runs of the game in the fourth. Bella Allison led off the fourth with a double into center field, followed by a base hit from Diorio to advance Allison to third. Next up, Hild grounded out to the shortstop for an RBI as Allison scored on the play. With two outs in the inning, the Spartans added another run as Salerno lined a ball into left field for an RBI single to cut into the Pioneers lead 5-2. In the bottom of the fifth the Pioneers added another run extending their lead to 6-2. In the late innings, the Spartans started to mount a comeback by stringing three consecutive hits together with one out, including an RBI double off the bat of Cayla Cavanagh after fouling off multiple pitches. The Spartans were unable to capitalize on more runs as the Pioneers recorded two more outs. The Pioneers were able to add on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth as the Spartans fell 10-3 in game two.

Paige Manning took the mound in game two for the Spartans. Manning threw three innings allowing seven hits, three earned runs, and one strikeout. Jaelyn Blakemore came in relief for Manning and pitched the remainder of the game. Through three innings of work, Blakemore allowed eight hits, five earned runs, and one strikeout. Diorio led the Spartans with two hits and two runs while five other Spartans recorded a hit. 

The Spartans are now 6-12 on the year.

Up Next
The Spartans will travel to the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse this weekend for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to start on Saturday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m.