Spring weather did the University of Wisconsin Superior no favors as the Yellowjackets could not maintain momentum falling Monday in both ends of the resumed Upper Midwest Athletic Conference doubleheader against the University of Minnesota Morris as the Cougars took game one 7-4 and narrowly edged out a 7-6 game two victory.

The games were postponed after rain and lightning on Saturday afternoon with Monday's action picking up in the third inning with Minnesota Morris (8-16, 2-2 UMAC) leading 3-1.  The Cougars continued to pile on from there, scoring two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings while totaling 18 hits in the game. UW-Superior (7-17, 3-3 UMAC) chased Morris starter Michael Dockendorf in the seventh, loading the bases on three-straight singles before bringing home their third run of the day on a walk by sophomore infielder Travis Miller (Whittier, Calif./La Serna H.S.). Reliever Tyler Hannan entered, inducing a sacrifice fly from sophomore Stephen Albertson (Stillwater, Minn/Stillwater H.S.) and shut the Yellowjackets down the rest of the way for his first of two saves on the day.

Senior right-hander Richard Vanden Branden (Neenah, Wis./St. Mary Central H.S.) got the start for the Yellowjackets on Saturday, working just the opening two innings before the rain stalled out the game.  Senior righty Brock McDermid (Pulaski, Wis./Pulaski H.S.) tossed 3.2 innings Monday, striking out two while allowing four earned on nine hits. Junior Jonah Lundequam (Cumberland, Wis./Cumberland H.S.) and freshman Zach Bennett (Corona, Calif./Santiago H.S.) closed out the final innings without allowing a run on the day.

Minnesota Morris 7, UW-Superior 6
The Cougars jumped out on UWS early, plating five runs in the second to hold an early 6-0 lead but the Yellowjackets would score six in the fifth to tie the game. Sophomore outfielder Matthew Boyde (Chanhassen, Minn./Minnetonka H.S.) had two singles in the inning and was a perfect 5-for-5 in the game. He led off the inning with the first of three-straight singles, eventually coming around to score on an RBI by junior outfielder Greg Pitts (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel H.S.). After a walk to senior Chad Patko (Stone Lake, Wis./Hayward H.S.) to load the bases, Miller ripped a bases-clearing double to chase Cougars' starter Mitch Reller after 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. After a single by reigning UMAC Player of the Week freshman Cory Albertson (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater H.S.) and a walk by senior catcher Nik Mattson (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.) to re-load the bases, Boyde ripped his second single to score a pair of runs.

The scoring outburst took senior right-hander Trevor Stone (Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn H.S.) off the hook as he left with a no-decision after five innings, striking out two while allowing 10 hits on the day. Junior lefty Brady Stocker (River Falls, Wis./River Falls H.S.) would work the rest of the way, but Minnesota Morris struck in the seventh inning. After loading the bases on three-straight singles of their own, a squeeze bunt resulted in a run scoring and another single before the Yellowjacket defense closed out the inning with a double play. While UWS threatened in each of the last two innings, Hannan limited the Yellowjackets to three hits while striking out four for his second save of the day.

UP NEXT
UW-Superior will be back in the northland Wednesday as the Yellowjackets take on bridge rival the College of St. Scholastica at Wade Stadium in Duluth. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.