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Sasha Fjeran
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Softball

Yellowjackets Split at Stevens Point

Sasha Fjeran's ninth-inning double provided the Yellowjackets with an insurance run in Thursday's 3-1 win.
Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

With a vast majority of its exhibition games in the rear-view mirror, the Yellowjacket softball team turned its gaze to conference play, as they opened the WIAC season Thursday with a pair of games at UW-Stevens Point. Entering the 2015 campaign, the Yellowjackets and the Pointers were picked to finish eighth and ninth in the league, respectively, so each team was hoping for an early-season sweep to kickstart a run toward the WIAC post-season. Instead, each team had to settle for a win, as the teams split a pair of games at McCarty Memorial Field in Stevens Point.

Stevens Point 6, Yellowjackets 3

Katie Wilke (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) got the Yellowjackets going, leading off the game with a single, but she was quickly erased on a double play ball and the Yellowjackets went down in the first without scoring a run. The Pointers, meanwhile, took advantage of a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning to plate a pair of runs and jump out to a 2-0 lead.

Stevens Point extended the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three times and chasing Yellowjacket starter Sarah Hendrickson (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) from the game. The big blow came off the bat of Jordon Schreiner, who accounted for two of the runs with a home run to right field.

Down a handful of runs the Yellowjacket offense came alive in the top of the fourth inning and cut into the deficit. With one out Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) reached on a bunt single and moved to second on a single up the middle by Kristen Haider (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato). Megan Nelson (Carlton, Minn./Carlton) followed and she cleared the bases, yanking a pitch over the fence in left field and with one swing of the bat the Yellowjackets were down by just two, 5-3. The Pointers beared down after the home run and put an end to the Yellowjacket rally.

It stayed a two-run game into the sixth inning when the Pointers added some insurance, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 6-3.

In the top of the seventh the Yellowjackets again started a rally. Pinch hitter Samantha Simonson (Colfax, Wis./Colfax) walked and went to second on a single by Brittany Thomfohrda (Cushing, Wis./Unity). With two outs Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) came to the plate representing the tying run, but she was retired and the Pointers preserved the win.

Aside from the three-run fourth inning the Yellowjackets struggled to generate offense, with just six hits in the game.

Hendrickson started for the Yellowjackets and allowed six earned runs on six hits in 3.1 innings. She gave way to Macy Hanson () who pitched the rest of the way, giving up one hit and walking a batter in 2.2 innings. She struck out four.

Yellowjackets 3, Stevens Point 1 (9 innings)

The second game of the day was all about pitching and defense, as the two teams combined for 15 hits but only four runs. The Yellowjackets had seven of the hits, and used that along with four errors by the Pointers to earn the 3-1 extra-innings win and the doubleheader split.

With the game scoreless through three innings, the Pointers drew first blood, scoring a single run in the bottom of the fourth to take the 1-0 lead.

The Yellowjackets answered in the top of the seventh. Haider, who entered the game leading the Yellowjackets in home runs, clocked her sixth of the year, sending a long shot over the fence in right center field, evening the game at 1-1.

Things stayed that way through the bottom of the seventh and the teams were off to extra innings. After a scoreless eighth the Yellowjackets broke through in the ninth to pull ahead. Nelson led off with a single and was lifted for pinch runner Taylor Johnson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior). Johnson advanced to second on a sacrifice before moving to third on a wild pitch. Shelly Misco (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) then came through in the clutch, driving in what would be the game winning run with a single up the middle. Misco was then erased on a fielders choice and was replaced at first by Nicole Weigman (White Bear Lake, Minn.). Sasha Fjeran (Two Harbors, Minn./Two Harbors) followed with a double and the two-bagger, coupled with an error by the right fielder, plated Weigman to give the Yellowjackets a 3-1 edge.

That was more than enough for Hanson, who, making her second relief appearance of the day, retired the Pointers in the bottom of the ninth to close out the two-run Yellowjacket victory.

Misco was the only Yellowjacket to have a multiple hit game, going 2-for-4 with the game winning run batted in.

Hendrickson started for the Yellowjackets and allowed an unearned run on five hits in 4.2 innings. She walked one and struck out one. Hanson pitched the rest of the way, providing the Yellowjackets with 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. She gave up just three hits and struck out four to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Yellowjackets (15-5, 1-1 WIAC) return to action Wednesday, April 8 when they travel to Ashland for a non-conference doubleheader against Northland College. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Sasha Fjeran

#24 Sasha Fjeran

C/OF
5' 4"
Junior
R/R
Kristen Haider

#7 Kristen Haider

IF
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Sarah Hendrickson

#21 Sarah Hendrickson

P/IF
5' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
Taylor Johnson

#15 Taylor Johnson

C
5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
Sally Linzmeier

#3 Sally Linzmeier

OF
5' 7"
Junior
R/R
Shelly Misco

#14 Shelly Misco

IF
5' 7"
Junior
R/R
Megan Nelson

#13 Megan Nelson

IF
5' 7"
Junior
R/R
Samantha Simonson

#30 Samantha Simonson

IF
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Brittany Thomfohrda

#18 Brittany Thomfohrda

OF
5' 9"
Junior
R/R
Katie Wilke

#8 Katie Wilke

OF
5' 5"
Junior
R/R
Nicole Weigman

#10 Nicole Weigman

P/OF
5' 5"
Freshman
Macy Hanson

#20 Macy Hanson

P
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sasha Fjeran

#24 Sasha Fjeran

5' 4"
Junior
R/R
C/OF
Kristen Haider

#7 Kristen Haider

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
IF
Sarah Hendrickson

#21 Sarah Hendrickson

5' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
P/IF
Taylor Johnson

#15 Taylor Johnson

5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
C
Sally Linzmeier

#3 Sally Linzmeier

5' 7"
Junior
R/R
OF
Shelly Misco

#14 Shelly Misco

5' 7"
Junior
R/R
IF
Megan Nelson

#13 Megan Nelson

5' 7"
Junior
R/R
IF
Samantha Simonson

#30 Samantha Simonson

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Brittany Thomfohrda

#18 Brittany Thomfohrda

5' 9"
Junior
R/R
OF
Katie Wilke

#8 Katie Wilke

5' 5"
Junior
R/R
OF
Nicole Weigman

#10 Nicole Weigman

5' 5"
Freshman
P/OF
Macy Hanson

#20 Macy Hanson

Freshman
P