UW-Superior 8, Crown 7 | Crown 2, UW-Superior 1
ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. (April 26, 2018) – The Yellowjackets saw two close games with the Crown College Storm, winning the first by just one score.
Game 1
The 'Jackets got off to a solid start in the first half inning as Ciarra Stavang (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld ) singled in the lead off spot. Katie White (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes) then moved her to second on a single to left center and then Alayna Tulip (Arcadia, Wis./Arcadia) did some damage with a single to score Stavang. Gabby Gidley (Superior, Wis./Superior) singled and advanced on the throw to score both White and Tulip. The 'Jackets were up 3-0 after the first.
 The game remained 3-0 until the Storm tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third, but Superior made it 4-3 after Stavang doubled and was drove home on a Maggie Cragg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) single.
The Yellowjackets then extended their lead in the fifth inning. Bailey Kinnunen (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) and Tulip got on base to begin the inning, and scored on a Gidley bases-clearing double. Sarah Fjeran (Duluth, Minn./Marshall School) got on after an error which also scored Gidley to make it 7-3 'Jackets. The final run of the inning came after Fjeran stole second and Stavang reached on an error, scoring Fjeran.
The lead was 8-3 'Jackets after five innings.
Crown chipped away at the Yellowjacket lead through the final two innings, scoring two in the final inning, but the 'Jackets secured the last out on a groundball to shortstop.
Game 2
Crown was quick to score in the first inning, going up 2-0. Damara Theis (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) settled in on the mound for Superior in the following innings, retiring batters on groundouts and strikeouts.
The 'Jackets cut the lead in half when Fjeran doubled to left, reach third on a pass ball, and then was driven home by a Stavang single. The score was 2-1 in the third.
The two pitchers would battle and the defenses would make plays to hold the offense scoreless through the rest of the game.
Tulip and Kinnunen reached base in the final inning for Superior, but the 'Jackets couldn't connect for the score, falling 2-1.
Tulip led the way for Superior, getting five hits in seven at-bats on the day.
Up Next
The Yellowjackets will Minnesota Morris on Saturday April 28.
