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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Richard Vanden Branden
Jade Jensen

Baseball Bryce Harp

Yellowjackets Overcome Early Struggles to Defeat Northland

Box Score

Yellowjackets 13, Northland 6
 
The Yellowjacket baseball team was back in action on Wednesday when they traveled to Ashland, Wis. to take on the Northland College Lumberjacks. The Yellowjackets were looking to improve to 3-0 in the UMAC after taking a pair from Martin Luther College over the weekend.

Things did not look good from the early going for the Yellowjackets in this one, as Northland jumped all over Yellowjacket starter Richard Vanden Branden (Neenah, Wis./Saint Mary Central) to score two runs in the bottom of the first.

The Yellowjackets got one back in the bottom of the second when Chad Patko (Stone Lake, Wis./Hayward) hit a one-out double and then scored two batters later on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The top of the third saw the Yellowjackets put three on the board. Jake Irlbeck (Centerville, Minn./Centennial) hit a 2-RBI single with the bases loaded and no outs to make it 3-2 Yellowjackets. Alex Osness (Wausau, Wis./West) then hit an RBI single with two outs to knock in Travis Miller (Whittier, Calif./La Serna) to give the Yellowjackets a 4-2 lead.

Northland struck right back in their half of the third when Xavier Baez-Ortiz connected with a Vanden Branden pitch for a one-out 3-run homerun. Vanden Branden settled down after that, but Northland held a 5-4 lead after three.

The Yellowjackets would take the lead for good in the fifth thanks to some timely two-out hitting. Osness once again came through for the Yellowjackets, hitting a single to score Miller. Greg Pitts (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) then followed suit, hitting a single of his own to knock in Irlbeck, giving the Yellowjackets a 6-5 lead.

The Yellowjackets would bat around in the seventh, scoring five runs as they blew the game open en route to a 13-6 victory.

Vanden Branden found his stride following a rough start, as he allowed only one run in the final six innings. Vanden Branden pitched all nine innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on 11 hits while walking four and striking out seven. He moves to 1-2 on the season.

Next up for the Yellowjackets (5-8, 3-0 UMAC) is their long awaited home-opener on Saturday, April 16 when they take on the University of Minnesota Morris. First pitch from Ted Whereatt Field is set for 1:30 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Chad Patko

#8 Chad Patko

IF
5' 8"
Junior
R/R
Greg Pitts

#11 Greg Pitts

OF
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Richard Vanden Branden

#4 Richard Vanden Branden

P
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Alex Osness

#24 Alex Osness

IF
6' 1"
Freshman
L/R
Travis Miller

#33 Travis Miller

IF
6' 3"
Freshman
R/R
Jake Irlbeck

#28 Jake Irlbeck

C
6' 0"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Chad Patko

#8 Chad Patko

5' 8"
Junior
R/R
IF
Greg Pitts

#11 Greg Pitts

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Richard Vanden Branden

#4 Richard Vanden Branden

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
P
Alex Osness

#24 Alex Osness

6' 1"
Freshman
L/R
IF
Travis Miller

#33 Travis Miller

6' 3"
Freshman
R/R
IF
Jake Irlbeck

#28 Jake Irlbeck

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
C