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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
UMAC SB Championship

Softball Bryce Harp

Yellowjackets Come From Behind to Win the UMAC Championship

Box Score

Yellowjackets 4, St. Scholastica 3

With the way the UMAC playoffs have played out thus far, it was only fitting that the Yellowjackets and the St. Scholastica Saints would end up playing in a winner take all game on Sunday afternoon to determine who would get to claim the title of UMAC Playoff Champion and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Yellowjackets appeared to have things figured out early against Saints starter Chrisi Mizera. Kari Shipman (Detroit Lakes, Minn./Frazee) hit a one-out single to left field before Ciarra Taipale (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) and Katie White (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes) drew back-to-back walks to load the bases in the top of the first. Unfortunately for the Yellowjackets, Mizera was able to settle down, getting the next two batters out to stymie the threat.

St. Scholastica wasted little time garnering a lead in this one, as Micah McGuiness hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the first to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. The next Saints batter reached on an error, and the Yellowjackets ended up paying for their defensive miscue, as St. Scholastica's Nikki Logergern shot a double to right center to push the Saints lead to 2-0.

Normally a 2-0 deficit is not considered much, but the Yellowjackets were also facing Mizera, who had pitched all 11 innings against them in the 1-0 loss earlier in the playoffs and had defeated them in the regular season, so this was no small task.

If the Yellowjackets were worried about Mizera, they certainly didn't show it, as they mounted a comeback in the third. Shipman led off the inning with a single up the middle. Taipale then reached on an error from the St. Scholastica shortstop before Katie White (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes) hit into a fielder's choice to put runners on first and third with one out.

Katie Wilke (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) came through for the Yellowjackets, sending a single to right center to score Shipman. Shelly Misco (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) was the next batter and she rocketed a double to left field to score Brooke Dahlin (Hermantown, Minn/Hermantown), who had come in to pinch run for White, as the Yellowjackets tied the game. The Yellowjackets then took a 3-2 lead as Sasha Fjeran (Two Harbors, Minn./Two Harbors) grounded out to the shortstop to score Wilke.

Defensive miscues hurt the Yellowjackets in the first inning, and they came back to hurt them again in the sixth. With one out, the Saints got a baserunner on a dropped fly ball by the Yellowjackets. Three batters later that error would come back to haunt the Yellowjackets, as the Saints leadoff hitter sent a single to right field to score the tying run.

The Yellowjackets were determined not to let this game go into extra innings as they came up to bat in the top of the seventh. Shipman got things going as she laid down a bunt single to put the go-ahead run on base. Shipman then took second on a Taipale fly out to left field to move into scoring position with two outs. The Yellowjackets two-out hitting success came through for them once more this playoffs, as White sent a singled to right field to score Shipman and put the Yellowjackets up 4-3.

The Yellowjackets put the Saints down in order in the seventh, as they punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament.

Macy Hanson (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg) got the start for the Yellowjackets, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while walking one in one-plus inning. Sarah Hendrickson (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) came on in relief of Hanson and pitched a gem out of the bullpen. Hendrickson allowed only one unearned run on five hits over the final six innings to earn her 20th victory of the season.

The Yellowjackets (27-13, 13-3 UMAC) will now have to wait until 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 9 to find out who and where they will be playing in their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2004.
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Players Mentioned

Sasha Fjeran

#24 Sasha Fjeran

IF
5' 5"
Senior
R/R
Macy Hanson

#22 Macy Hanson

P
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
Sarah Hendrickson

#13 Sarah Hendrickson

P
5' 2"
Junior
R/R
Shelly Misco

#14 Shelly Misco

IF
5' 7"
Senior
R/R
Kari Shipman

#2 Kari Shipman

OF
5' 7"
Senior
R/R
Ciarra Stavang

#9 Ciarra Stavang

OF
5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
Katie White

#5 Katie White

P/IF
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Katie Wilke

#8 Katie Wilke

OF
5' 2"
Senior
R/R
Brooke Dahlin

#20 Brooke Dahlin

IF
5' 6"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Sasha Fjeran

#24 Sasha Fjeran

5' 5"
Senior
R/R
IF
Macy Hanson

#22 Macy Hanson

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
P
Sarah Hendrickson

#13 Sarah Hendrickson

5' 2"
Junior
R/R
P
Shelly Misco

#14 Shelly Misco

5' 7"
Senior
R/R
IF
Kari Shipman

#2 Kari Shipman

5' 7"
Senior
R/R
OF
Ciarra Stavang

#9 Ciarra Stavang

5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Katie White

#5 Katie White

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
P/IF
Katie Wilke

#8 Katie Wilke

5' 2"
Senior
R/R
OF
Brooke Dahlin

#20 Brooke Dahlin

5' 6"
Freshman
R/R
IF