MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (April 7–14)
SWC BASEBALL: Platteville 7, Dodgeville 6
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal / Boscobel Dial / Fennimore Times

Sasse walk-off single caps Hillmen four-run rally in the bottom of the 7th to beat SWC rival Dodgers

PLATTEVILLE — Platteville scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to open Southwest Wisconsin Conference play with a dramatic 7–6 victory over visiting Dodgeville Friday at Hill Field.

Senior catcher Tyler Sasse capped the game-winning rally with a clutch two-out walk-off RBI single to left field, scoring classmate Carson Opgenorth.

Opgenorth tied the game three pitches earlier, when he lined a two-run single to right field and advanced to second on an error.

Dodgeville led 5–1 through five innings of play and were cruising behind senior ace Nathan Johnson, who shared All--SWC first-team pitcher honors last year with Platteville senior pitcher Trent Mumm.

Platteville got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sac fly by senior Dylan Weigel and a Dodgeville throwing error on the same play.

A Platteville error, a double by Caden Schneider and a sac fly by Blake Stodola.

Platteville reliever Brody Digman then hit Jentry Olson to put runners on the corners, but got out of the jam with- out further damage when he turned a 1–6–3 double play on a comebacker by Boone Rickard.

Rickard replaced Johnson to start the bottom of the seventh inning with Johnson (6IP, 3H, 2ER, 6K, 2BB) at 86 pitches for the game and the Dodgers holding a 6–3 lead.

Alex Cullen began Platteville’s game-winning rally with a line drive single to left field.

After strikeout and a pop up to second base, it looked pretty bleak for the home team.

Digman when blooped an RBI single to right field to make it 6–4.

Rickard then walked senior Evan Johnson before Opgenorth delivered the game- tying two-run single to right

field, setting the stage for Sasse’s game-winner.

Digman (1–0) picked up the win in relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit in his one inning of work.

Evan Johnson started for Platteville and allowed five run on eight hits and five walks, while striking out five in six innings of work.

Bryce Crubaugh-Lockard went 4-for-4 with two RBI, and Jayce Halverson (2x3, RBI) and Schneider (2x4, RBI) each had two hits and an RBI to lead the Dodgers’ offense.

Platteville improved to 3–0 on the season with a 4–1 non-conference win over Potosi/Cassville Monday night.

Senior Kingston Clayton held the previously unbeaten Chieftains (4–1) to just one unearned run on five hits in an 87-pitch complete game victory, while striking out two.

Junior Graedyn Roberts went 2-for-2 with a walk, an RBI single in the second, three stolen bases and a run scored for the Hillmen. Henry Stange went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the second and two runs scored for the winners.

Platteville will host River Valley Thursday at 5 p.m. before traveling to Mount Horeb Friday afternoon.

The Hillmen will then host Lancaster Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Platteville 7, Dodgeville 6

(from Friday, April 10 @ Platteville)

Dodgeville...200 210 1 — 6 9 3

Platteville.....100 002 4 — 7 6 1

Leading hitters — D: Bryce Crubaugh-Lockard 4x4 (2RBI, R), Jayce Halverson 2x3 (RBI, R), Caden Schneider 2x4 (RBI); P: Evan Johnson 1x2 (2RB), Carson Opgenorth 2x2 (RBI, R), Dylan Wiegel 1x2 (2RBI). 2B — D: Schneider 2.

W — Brody Digman (1–0, 1IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 0K, 0BB). L — Boone Rickard (0.2IP, 3H, 4R, 0ER, 1K, 1BB).