The University of Wisconsin Superior saw its 2017 campaign come to a close as Bethany Lutheran College held on for an 8-6 victory despite a Yellowjacket comeback attempt on Friday night in an elimination game during the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference tournament at Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota.

UW-Superior (16-27) saw its defense falter early, as Bethany Lutheran (22-18) pecked away for three runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a hit batter, an error, and a pair of singles. Freshman Braeden Barr (San Diego, Calif./Grossmount H.S.) got the Yellowjackets on the board with a two-run double in the top of the second, finishing 3-for-4 on the day with four runs batted in. The Vikings continued to add to their lead in the bottom of the second when UWS committed another error on the infield, as Bethany pushed its lead back out to 5-2 after two.

Senior Kyle Bellin (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly H.S.) tripled leading off the third and would come in to score on an RBI single by freshman Cory Albertson (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater H.S.) later in the inning. After the teams traded three-up, three-down innings, the Vikings scored with the aid of a third error in the bottom of the fourth, getting a bases loaded infield single by Trent Saharek and an RBI fielder's choice later in the inning. Bellin walked leading off the fifth and came around to score on another single by Albertson, and Barr struck for his second two-run double before the inning was through as UW-Superior chased Bethany Lutheran starter Anthony Radloff after 4.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out five.

The Vikings added a run to the their lead in the bottom of the seventh, but the game turned into a pitcher's duel as the two teams turned to their bullpens. Logan Nissen allowed five hits while striking out seven to earn the victory out of the bullpen, while senior Brock McDermid (Pulaski, Wis./Pulaski H.S.) did not allow a hit in his 3.2 innings of relief for the Yellowjackets. Senior Richard Vanden Branden (Neenah, Wis./St. Mary Central H.S.) took the defeat on the hill for UWS, allowing seven runs but just one earned on 10 hits.

With the season coming to a close, the Yellowjackets bid farewell to a talented group of seniors, including Bellin, McDermid, and Vanden Branden but also infielder Chad Patko (Stone Lake, Wis./Hayward H.S.), catcher Nik Mattson (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.), and pitchers Grant Schneider (Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial H.S.) and Trevor Stone (Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn H.S.).