SUPERIOR, Wis.: The temperature outside (felt like 28 with the wind at first pitch) and the upcoming forecast (historic snow storm on the way) don't lead people to think we are in spring sports season. Still, on a sunny and blustery Tuesday afternoon, the UMAC-leading Yellowjacket softball team took to the diamond at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex for a conference doubleheader against Northwestern.

Strong winds, strong pitching and strong defense all played their respective parts to keep both teams in check offensively, but in the end the Yellowjackets (9-15, 6-0 UMAC) ran their winning streak to six games and held onto their lead in the conference.

Game 1
The opening game Tuesday was a pitcher's duel, with reigning UMAC Pitcher of the Week Ashley Taipale (Duluth, Minn./Denfield) hurling a gem for the Yellowjackets. Taipale, who tossed a no-hitter at St. Scholastica a week ago was once again great in the circle, shutting down the Eagles and allowing just five hits in the contest. As good as Taipale was, Lexi Kopacek was better for Northwestern, surrendering just one hit.

Still, the Yellowjackets scratched out just enough offense to win the game.

With the game still scoreless as the teams went to the bottom of the fifth inning, the Yellowjackets were finally able to break through against Northwestern and Kopaceck. Davriana Horvath (Esko, Minn./Esko) led off the inning with the only hit of the game for the Yellowjackets, stroking a double to left center field. Amelia Leger (Andover, Minn./Andover) replaced Horvath as a pinch runner, and moved to third on Gabby Gidley's (Superior, Wis./Superior) sacrifice attempt. Northwestern botched the play, giving the Yellowjackets runners on the corners and on the next play the Yellowjackets executed a perfect double steal, scoring Leger with the game's first run. Two hitters later a fielder's choice scored Gidley to make it a 2-0 game.

That was enough for Taipale, as she sent the Eagles down in order in the sixth. She had to sweat it out a bit in the seventh, but her defense came through in fine style to preserve the victory. Taipale walked two and struck out six to earn her fourth win of the season.

Game 2
Northwestern was finally able to figure out the Yellowjackets pitching and defense, scoring their first run of the day in the top of the third inning of game two to take a 1-0 lead, but the Yellowjackets would answer that run and then some in their half of the fourth inning.

Horvath started things with a single through the left side and was lifted when Leger pinch ran. Gidley sacrificed Leger to third and reached base on the error, but Northwestern recovered and cut down Leger at the plate to keep the lead. Bailey Kinnunen (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) singled to left field to put two runners on, and Gidley would come around to score on an Amber Yoch (North Branch, Minn./North Branch Area) double to right, tying the game. Both Kinnunen and Yoch would score when starting pitcher Amanda Kishish (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) helped her own cause with a double to right center, putting the Yellowjackets in front 3-1.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth when Yoch doubled to right for the second straight at bat, plating Kinnunen with the Yellowjackets fifth run. Yoch would later score the fifth and final run of the game for the Yellowjackets on a Bailey Armstrong (Scandia, Minn/Forest Lake) single, making it a 5-1 game.

Taipale, who came on in relief of Kishish in the sixth, set the Eagles down in order in the seventh to preserve the victory, and the sweep for the Yellowjackets.

Yoch paced the Yellowjacket eight-hit attack. She scored twice and drove in two and was the only Yellowjacket to have a multi-hit game.

Kishish got the win in the circle for the Yellowjackets, allowing one run on four hits in 5.1 innings. She walked four and three struck out three. She is now 3-3 on the year. Taipale earned her second save of the season with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.