Northwestern 17, UW-Superior 3 | Bethany Lutheran 6, UW-Superior 5 (10 inn.)
DULUTH, Minn. (May 3, 2018) – The Yellowjackets saw their 2018 season come to a close Thursday afternoon after two tough losses in the UMAC Tournament.
Game 1
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, going up 2-0 after three hits, but Superior soon answered with runs in their half of the inning.
Ciarra Stavang (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld ) singled up the middle to lead off the game for UWS, while Maggie Cragg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) reached on a throwing error from the pitcher. Saige Patrick (Steinbach, Man./St. Mary's Academy) soon singled through the right side to score Stavang and advance Cragg to third. Patrick tied the game at 2-2 when she stole second a muffed throw by the shortstop scored Cragg. Katie White (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes) batted in the final run of the inning on a fielder's choice to the shortstop.
The Eagles would go on to score 15 runs in three of the final four innings, taking the 17-3 victory over the 'Jackets in the first round of the UMAC Tournament.
Game 2
The second game was much tighter than the first, as the teams were scoreless through the first two and a half innings. The Yellowjackets saw one score in the bottom of the third for Superior when Sara Fjeran and Stavang singled to put runners on first and third. Cragg scored Fjeran on a fielder's choice for a 1-0 game.
The pitchers Macy Hanson (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg) and Pipenhagen would continue to roll through the next one and a half innings, until the 'Jackets added more runs in the fifth.
A single from Bobbi Jean Miller (Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis) and a few errors from the Vikings held the 'Jackets score two unearned runs as Stavang and Amelia Leger (Andover, Minn./Andover) crossed home plate. It was 3-0 'Jackets after five innings.
Bethany Lutheran brought the rally in the top of the seventh inning to score three runs on four hits and a sacrifice fly. Superior couldn't find the game-winner in seven, sending the game to extra innings.
Bethany Lutheran struck first in the top of the ninth inning, when they took a 5-3 run on two hits and a 'Jacket error. Superior found their mojo for two runs in the bottom of the ninth when Miller and Fjeran both singled and were then brought home on an error and a Cragg sacrifice fly. It was a tie game once again.
The Vikings found the game-winning run in the top of the 10th on a single to center. Superior couldn't put the tying run together in the last half inning, falling 6-5.
Stavang had four hits in seven at-bats on the day, while Fjeran was 2-of-4 from the dish. Hanson pitched 12.2 innings on the day, notching 12 stirkeouts.
Up Next
The Yellowjackets will look to improve in the offseason and content for another top spot in the UMAC in 2019.
