In a pair of games that lasted less than two-and-a-half hours combined, the University of Wisconsin Superior made short work of an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference sweep of Northland College by scores of 7-3 and 12-1 (5 innings) in a rain-soaked home opener at Liebaert Field in Superior.
Sophomore outfielder
Saige Patrick (Steinbach, Man./St. Mary's Academy) finished 6-for-6 with three triples, a double, one RBI, and three runs scored on the day with two more runs coming around to score at her spot in the order via the pinch runner. Junior outfielder
Ciarra Taipale (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld H.S.) launched her third home run of the season, driving in four runs on the day. Rookie shortstop
Bailey Kinnunen (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids H.S.) had two doubles and also added four RBIs as UW-Superior (12-9, 5-1 UMAC) made it five straight victories and a weekend sweep of conference play.
After a walk from junior infielder
Katie White (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes H.S.) and Patrick's first single of the day, Kinnunen followed up with a first-inning double to put the Yellowjackets up 2-0 early in game one with Northland (4-18, 3-3 UMAC). First-year designated hitter
Maggie Cragg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park H.S.) singled home Kinnunen later in the inning to add to the cushion. Patrick hit her first triple of the day in the second, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Taipale. She hit another triple in the fourth and pinch runner
Mariah Linder (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids H.S.) would score one batter later on a groundball.
The LumberJills scored three in the top of the sixth, the first time rookie right-handed pitcher
Megan Pehrson (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids H.S.) allowed a run in 21.2 innings of work, but UWS had an answer as Taipale lifted a two-run homer after a Northland error to put the 'Jackets up 7-3. Pehrson (8-3) allowed two earned runs on seven hits, striking out five in a complete game effort.
UW-Superior 12, Northland 1 (5 innings)
The Yellowjackets finished up game two with a mercy rule five-inning victory as senior right-hander
Sarah Hendrickson (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld H.S.) (4-6) allowed just one unearned run on the mound, scattering five hits while striking out two. UW-Superior roughed up 'Jills starter Megan Mader for 12 earned on 13 hits, with three wild pitches contributing along the way in 3.1 innings.
After a first-inning double by Patrick, Kinnunen singled her home for the Yellowjackets' first score of the game. Cragg followed that up with a single of her own, scoring Taipale who had walked earlier in the inning. After a single by first-year outfielder
Bobbi Jean Miller (Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis H.S.), sophomore pinch hitter
Bailey Armstrong (Scandia, Minn/Forest Lake H.S.) lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to score another run. Sophomre catcher
Gabby Gidley (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.) continued the inning with a two-run double, scoring Cragg and Miller, and she would come around to score on a single by Hendrickson. UW-Superior would turn the line-up over as White and Patrick both singled, the latter of which brought home Hendrickson to give the Yellowjackets a 7-0 cushion after one.
Kinnunen doubled yet again in the second, coming around to score on a groundout by Miller two batters later. Northland scored its lone run of the game after three singles and an error on the UWS outfield. Patrick hit her third and final triple of the day in the bottom of the fourth, lifted for pinch runner Linder who then came around to score on a wild pitch. The Yellowjackets strung together four-straight hits leading off the inning, with all three wild pitches coming in the same inning and bringing home a pair of runs. Sophomore pinch hitter
Lizzy Borgwardt (Verona, Wis./Verona Area H.S.) brought home an RBI on a groundball to first.
UP NEXT
UW-Superior will take on bridge rival The College of St. Scholastica on the road as UMAC play continues Tuesday afternoon. Opening pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. in Duluth.
