Blue Devils gut out a wet, windy and cold win over Platteville

Box Score 1 | UW-Stout 5, UW-Platteville 3 | Photo Gallery | Archived Video

MENOMONIE (April 27, 2014) - On a wet and windy morning, the Blue Devils softball team came away with a victory, defeating UW-Platteville 5-3 in a rain-shortened match-up. Due to the inclement weather, the first game was called after six innings and the second game was postponed.

As the grounds crew tried valiantly to keep the field in a playable condition, Stout jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Kaitlin Stark (So, Hastings, Minn.) got things started with a single. Two batters later, Sam Hastings (Sr, Waukesha) hit a single, putting runners on first and second with two outs. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base and Taylor Workman (Jr, Prior Lake, Minn.) lifted the ball to short right, where a diving MJ Patten was unable to come up with the catch, allowing both runners to score.

Starting pitcher Caty Schloer (Fr, Lino Lakes, Minn.) cruised through the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. With two outs and two on, Platteville's Ellyn Goerdt laced a triple to right field to tie the game 2-2. Tori Workman (So, Prior Lake, Minn.) came on in relief of Schloer and gave up a single to the first batter she faced, allowing another run to come home.

With Platteville leading 3-2 and the rain coming down harder than ever, Lynzi Knudtson (Jr, Melrose) Hastings, and Taylor Workman drew walks to load up the bases with nobody out. First baseman Hannah Sweet (Sr, Elk River, Minn.) followed with a soft liner that glanced off the shortstops glove, driving in Knudtson from third. Hastings scored a few pitches later on a wild pitch and Sara Mueller (So, Faribault, Minn.), pinch-running for Workman, came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Nicole Rogers (So, Brooklyn Center, Minn.).

Tori Workman retired the next three batters and the umpires made the decision to call the game due to weather after six innings. Workman got the victory for the Blue Devils, improving to 19-8 on the season. Hastings went 2-2 at the plate with two runs scored to lead Stout.

Up next, the Blue Devils are planning to travel to UW-Oshkosh for a doubleheader on Monday, April 28. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.