Hamline 13, UW-Superior 3 | Allegheny 19, UW-Superior 18
TUCSON, Ariz. (March 22, 2018) – The Yellowjackets combined for 21 runs in two games Thursday afternoon, but it wasn't enough to get a win against the Pipers or Gators.
Game 1
The Yellowjackets scored first in their contest with Hamline, putting up one run in the bottom of the third. It started with back-to-back singles from Mike Rodriguez (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech) and Alex Osness (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West) and then Braeden Barr (San Diego, Calif./Grossmount) would score Rodriguez on a single of his own. The 'Jackets were up 1-0.
Hamline would add five runs in the following two innings to go up 5-1, but Superior found their bats once again in the bottom of the fifth.
Sam Haines (Paynesville, Minn./Paynesville) would begin the inning with a single, followed by Rodriguez and Osness at the top of the order, scoring Haines after some nifty base running. The duo then pulled off a double-steal to score the Yellowjackets third run, down just 5-3 after five full innings.
The Pipers didn't waste time in the following two innings, putting the game out of reach 13-3.
Game 2
The second game saw some of the best offensive output this season for the Yellowjackets, getting the scoring started in bottom of the first. Brandon Rolf (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) reached first on an error, stole second, and mad it to third on a pass ball to get into scoring position; Spencer Lawniczak (Pulaski, Wis./Pulaski) brought him home with single to left field for a 1-0 game.
Matthew Boyde (Chanhassen, Minn./Minnetonka) belted a ball to center field to put one more on base followed by freshman Bryce Flannagan brought both Lawniczak and Boyde home to make it 3-0 'Jackets.
The Gators used a huge third inning to stake a sizable 8-3 lead on eight hits, but the Yellowjackets weren't going to let this one get away. They fired back in their half of the third to get back in it.
Jason Steinke (Sebeka, Minn./Sebeka) and Lawniczak were able to get on base and another Boyde shot brought them home, as the junior belted the ball to center for two RBIs. The Yellowjackets would make their way back through the lineup and score three unearned runs to tie the game at 8-8.
The game would remain tame until the sixth when the Gators put together another big inning to take a 15-8 lead.
Once again, Superior didn't give up. Nick McNosky (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle) got things started with a single, followed by a Lawniczak sacrifice fly to make it 9-8. The Yellowjackets played base-to-base, stringing together singles to score the lineup and make it back to McNosky. Rolf and McNosky then scored on back-to-back wild pitches to take a 16-15 lead. The two-score came on Boyde's second hit of the inning, singling and bringing home Haines. Superior was up 17-15.
Allegheny would score four in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 19-17 lead, and Superior would add one more in their half of the eighth when Rolf homered down the right field line. It was a 19-18 game heading into the ninth.
Boyde would single to start the bottom of the ninth, and Colin Welch (Acton, Calif./Golden Valley) found a walk, but the 'Jackets couldn't find the game-tying run, ending the game on two ground balls.
Up Next
The Yellowjackets will look to leave Tucson with a win tomorrow, facing Wesleyan University at 12:30 p.m. MST.
