The University of Wisconsin Superior stumbled twice as its pitching faltered against Bethany Lutheran College with the Vikings knocking off the Yellowjackets 8-1 and 16-8 on the road in Mankato, Minnesota on Saturday afternoon.

UW-Superior (10-22, 5-7 UMAC) got a strong starting performance from senior Grant Schneider (Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial H.S.) in game one, as the right-hander (2-3) tossed 6.1 innings, allowing just one earned run on seven hits while striking out five. The Yellowjacket bullpen surrendered six earned over the final 1.2 innings as Bethany Lutheran (17-15, 9-4 UMAC) pulled away with six runs in the eighth, turning a 2-1 lead into a complete game victory for Brandyn Olsen (8-0), who allowed just two hits on the day. Senior catcher Nik Mattson (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.) scored sophomore pinch-runner Mike Rodriguez (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech H.S.) in the seventh to put UW-Superior on the board. Olsen also contributed with his bat, finishing 2-for-5 with a three-run homer in the eighth.

The Yellowjacket offense came alive in game two, but the Vikings scored in each of the first seven innings. Senior Brock McDermid (Pulaski, Wis./Pulaski H.S.) (0-3) was knocked out after 2+ innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, striking out one. Bethany struck for five unearned runs against junior left-hander Brady Stocker (River Falls, Wis./River Falls H.S.) in his 3.0 innings of work as UWS totaled six errors on the day. The Yellowjackets manufactured a pair of runs in the top of the third as freshman Brandon Rolf (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater H.S.) and junior Greg Pitts (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel H.S.) performed a double steal, coming around to score on a groundout and an error on the Viking infield.

Trailing 11-2 entering the top of the fifth, UWS struck for five runs in the inning. Four-straight batters reached leading off the inning, knocking out Bethany starter Anthony Radloff after 4+ innings, allowing five earned on six hits. Alex Babcock (4-1) allowed just two earned over the final 5.0 innings, scattering six Yellowjacket hits. Mattson added an RBI single in the inning as ten different batters had at least a hit for UW-Superior in the game. Pitts was 2-for-5 in the game, driving in the Yellowjackets' final run of the day in the top of the ninth. Sophomore Travis Miller (Whittier, Calif./La Serna H.S.) and Mattson were each 2-for-4 in the game.

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UW-Superior will host six of its final eight games at Whereatt Field beginning Wednesday as the Yellowjackets welcome the University of Wisconsin-Stout to Superior for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.