The University of Wisconsin Superior got a steady pitching performance from rookie Austin Miller (Harrison, Ohio/William Henry Harrison H.S.), but the College of St. Scholastica's offense was too much for the Yellowjackets as the Saints pulled away for a 12-2 victory in seven innings in the opening round of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday night at Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota.

UW-Superior (15-26) will live on in the tournament, taking on the University of Minnesota Morris on Friday afternoon in an elimination game thanks to the double elimination format. The Yellowjacket defense faltered in the opening inning, as a pair of deep flyballs turned into an inside-the-park home run and a bases-loaded double as St. Scholastica (30-8) opened up a 5-0 lead early. UWS got on the board with their first hit of the day after a pair of walks leading off the top of the third as senior Chad Patko (Stone Lake, Wis./Hayward H.S.) singled home a run. Senior Nik Mattson (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.) would drive in the Yellowjackets' second run later in the inning.

The Saints' Eric Pearson continued to punish UW-Superior's pitching as he launched a three-run home run in the fifth, chasing Miller. Pearson ended his day 3-for-4 with six runs batted in and two runs scored. Miller allowed eight runs on nine hits in his 5.0 innings of work. The bullpen couldn't keep the Yellowjackets' hopes alive as they allowed four runs on six hits in 1.1 innings, with the Saints walking off a 10-run mercy-rule victory in the bottom of the seventh.

Ben Christofferson picked up the victory on the hill for CSS, allowing just two earned on three hits in 6.0 innings while striking out five.

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UW-Superior takes on Minn. Morris in a must-win game on Friday at the Wade. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.