The Platteville varsity softball team used a solid team effort at the plate to overcome five defensive errors to escape Monday’s rescheduled non-conference game against visiting Fennimore with an 8-6 victory.
     Kelsey Spensley and Katie Klar had three hits each and junior third baseman Halli Austin provided the game-winner with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning.
     Sophomore pitcher Megan Schlueter (2-0) worked around the five errors to pick up her second win of the season. She went the distance allowing just three earned runs on six this while striking out 11 and walking four.
     “I was very pleased with how the girls played, especially when it came to dealing with it being very windy,” said Platteville coach Tina Davies. “The errors occurred primarily from trying to play the ball when it was in the air swirling around. There were definitely some great attempts made at the balls”.
     Platteville (2-0 overall) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by left fielder Katie Klar.
The Hillmen added two more in the second on a safety squeeze bunt by Amber Edge, that scored Brittany Edge, and a an Emily Feyen RBI single to centerfield.
     Fennimore scored three in the top of the third to tie the game. A pair of Platteville errors contributed to the Golden Eagle rally.
     Platteville regained the lead with two more in the third and one in the fourth. Taylor Triphan’s RBI double to left field scored Klar to make it 4-3, then Brittany Edge stole home to give the Hillmen a two-run cushion. Spensley’s RBI double in the fourth brought in courtesy runner Courtney Edge to make it 6-3.
     Fennimore again tied the game with another three-run rally in the top of the fifth. Kohout drove in one run with an RBI triple to left field then Biddick tied the game with a two-run double to right.
     “Even when the game got tied, I was proud of how the girls never lost their focus and continued to believe that they could overcome and get ahead again,” explained Davies. “Last year we would crumble at crucial points and this year they have stepped up to the challenge and shown that they can do it.”
     Fortunately the Hillmen had one last rally left. Feyen walked to lead off the Platteville sixth and Spensley followed with an infield single to shortstop. Spensley then stole second to set up Austin’s game-winning blow.
     “The girls did a great job of hitting the holes and being aggressive on the base paths,” added Davies. “As we continue through the season I see us growing even more with confidence and determination to play the best ball we can. I am very excited to see what the next game will bring.”

Platteville 8, Fennimore 6
(from Monday, April 9 @ Platteville)
Fennimore    003    030     0    -  6   6  1
Platteville    122    102    x    -  8 10  5
Leading hitters - F: Biddick 2x3; P: Katie Klar 3x4, Kelsey Spensley 3x4. 2B - F: Neeham; P: Spensley, Halli Austin, Taylor Triphan. 3B - F: Kohous, Biddick. W - Megan Schlueter (2-0, 7 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 11 SO, 4 BB). L - Biddick (6 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 5 SO, 7 BB).