SUPERIOR, Wis. - The Yellowjacket softball team played its third and final game of the fall season Thursday evening at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex. After splitting the first two games, both teams were looking to gain an advantage moving forward into their best-of-three series later this month.

Things proved difficult for both teams, especially early, and temperatures hovering in the mid-40s may have been a contributing factor as pitchers and defenders fought to find a groove on the evening. In the end Team Black, fueled by a big inning late, taking down Team White 8-5.

Black put up a crooked number in the first inning, plating three runs before White took its first at bat. Later, leading 5-3, Black put the game away by scoring three times in the top of the seventh. White came back and scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late and Black earned its second win in a row.

Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) started her second game in a row for Black, and had some difficulty finding her stride early. She eventually would get back on her game and went the distance in the circle, picking up the win after allowing four earned runs on eight hits. She struck out four. She squared off against Malania Madill (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge) who got the start in the circle for White. Like Kraemer, Madill had some difficulty early. She finished the game allowing six earned runs on nine hits over seven innings. Madill struck out four.

Marley Burd (Glendale, Ariz./Centennial) went 2-for-3 in the box for Black, driving in three and also stealing a base. Tiffany Kirk (McHenry, Ill./McHenry East) continued her strong fall at the plate, finishing with three hits and three runs scored to go along with two stolen bases.

On the other side, Hailee Melgeorge (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) went 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and a stolen base for White, while Jessica Jacobson (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Southern Door) went 2-for-6, scoring twice and stealing two bases.

With the win, Black takes two out of three games and now both sides will prepare for the best-of-three series, which is scheduled to begin Saturday, October 17. Opening pitch is set for 10:00 a.m. at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex in Superior.