Monday was the first day of spring, and for UW-Superior the boys of spring were in action, taking on Oberlin (Ohio) College in a doubleheader at Tucson, Arizona's Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. And after a disappointing start to the twin bill, the Yellowjackets bounced back to take the nightcap and earn a split on the day.

Senior right-hander Trevor Stone (Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn H.S.) spun a gem, as he threw a complete game seven-hitter to lead the Yellowajckets to the 8-2 win.

In addition to being the first win of the 2017 season for the Yellowjackets (1-2), it was also the first victory in the UW-Superior head coaching tenure of Frank Pufall.

The Yellowjacket offense was slow starting, mustering just two hits in the first three innings in falling behind 1-0. They evened the score in the top of the fourth inning when Cory Albertson (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater H.S.) drew a lead-off walk and came around to score on a single by Kyle Bellin (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly H.S.). They took the in the top of the fifth and once again it started with a walk. This time Greg Pitts (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel H.S.) drew the free pass and two hitters later came in on a Braden Barr single. The lead was short-lived, however, as Oberlin tied the game in the bottom of the frame.

In the sixth inning the Yellowjackets blew the game open. Stephen Albertson (Stillwater, Minn/Stillwater H.S.) started things with a long drive off the fence in left field that resulted in a triple, and Nick McNosky (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle H.S.) singled him in to make it 3-2. McNosky scored the fourth Yellowjacket run on a single by Bellin, and shortly after Bellin came across the plate to make it a 5-2 game.

Stone made quick work of the Yeomen in the bottom of the sixth, quickly bringing the Yellowjackets back to the plate and the momentum continued, as the Yellowjackets plated three more. Cory Albertson (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater H.S.) walked and scored, and Stephen Albertson (Stillwater, Minn/Stillwater H.S.) who reached on his second straight extra-base hit, scored on a failed pick-off attempt at third base. A sacrifice fly scored Bellin to push the Yellowjackets ahead 8-2.

Stone took care of things from there, shutting down the Yeomen in order in the seventh to close out the game. Stone finished the game allowing just one earned run and struck out two without walking a batter. Rolf and Stephen Albertson (Stillwater, Minn/Stillwater H.S.) paced the Yellowjackets at the plate with two hits apiece. The Yellowjackets finished with nine hits in the game.

Game 1
Oberlin 12, Wis.-Superior 3

After struggling out of the gates in the opener, Oberlin got to the Yellowjackets and starter Richard Vanden Branden (Neenah, Wis./St. Mary Central H.S.) in the middle innings, scoring five times in a fourth inning that blew the game open.

The Yellowjackets opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when Bellin led off with a double to right field and scored on a Pitts sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

From there it was all Oberlin. After the big fourth inning the Yeomen added two runs in the fifth inning, three in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

The Yellowjackets added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out Jason Steinke (Sebeka, Minn./Sebeka H.S.) reached on an error and moved up two bases on consecutive wild pitches. He scored on a ground out to give the Yellowjackets their second run. Zach Remund (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids H.S.) was later hit by a pitch, and after moving to third on McNosky's single, came in when the Oberlin pitcher balked, making the final score 12-3.

Vanden Branden took the loss for the Yellowjackets, going five innings and allowing seven runs on nine hits. Elliot Danhoff (Gladstone, Mich./Gladstone H.S.) and Trevor Roszczewski (Minocqua, Wis./Lakeland Union H.S.) each threw and inning of relief.

Up Next
The Yellowjackets play two again on Tuesday. They take on Allegheny College for the second time on the trip at 12:00 p.m. MT, followed by a tilt with Kalamazoo College at 3:00 p.m MT. Both games are scheduled to go nine innigns.

Offensively the Yellowjackets got seven hits from seven different players.