The University of Wisconsin Superior made it three victories in a row in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play as the Yellowjackets swept a doubleheader against the University of Minnesota Morris with a pair of shutouts, 9-0 and 4-0, on the road Saturday in Morris, Minnesota.

UW-Superior (10-9, 3-1 UMAC) plated seven runs in the top of the fifth inning to make short work of Minnesota Morris (4-18, 0-4 UMAC) in the mercy-shortened five-inning affair. First-year right-handed pitcher Megan Pehrson (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids H.S.) allowed just one bunt single in the fifth inning of an otherwise perfect outing, striking out eight on the day. Elli Stevenson worked 4.2 innings for the Cougars, allowing nine earned runs on nine hits and six walks before giving way to a reliever for the final out.

Junior outfielder Ciarra Taipale (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld H.S.)'s first inning two-run homer (2) was the only score of the game headed to the final frame. Sophomore outfielder Saige Patrick (Steinbach, Man./St. Mary's Academy) followed that up with a two-run shot of her own (2) in the fifth. Four straight batters reached leading off the inning, followed by a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch to bring home the Yellowjackets' fifth run of the day. Sophomores Gabby Gidley (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.) and Kayla Hartl (Medford, Wis./Medford Area H.S.) each singled, and junior Katie White (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes H.S.) followed that up with her second double of the day, driving in two to put UW-Superior over the eight-run threshold for an early victory.

UW-Superior 4, Minnesota Morris 0
Pehrson (7-3) continued her work on the mound where she left off, scattering five hits in a shutout while striking out 11 to bring her total to 19 on the day in 12.0 innings. The Yellowjackets got the scoring started in the third inning when Taipale singled home White, eventually coming around to score on a single by first-year infielder Sarah Fjeran (Duluth, Minn./Marshall School).

After a walk by Gidley, first-year designated hitter Maggie Cragg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park H.S.) reached on a bunt single of her own, and the two moved around on a sacrifice bunt before Gidley scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore pinch hitter Bailey Armstrong (Scandia, Minn/Forest Lake H.S.). Cragg would then score on a single by White, her third RBI and fourth hit of the day.

Sophomore hurler Bret Hulett worked a complete game for the Cougars, allowing four earned on 10 hits and a pair of walks, striking out four but tossing five wild pitches on the day.

UP NEXT
UW-Superior will return to Superior Sunday for the Yellowjackets' home opener against Northland College at Liebaert Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.