MORRIS, Minn. – The Yellowjacket softball team had won three in a row and was looking to extend its winning streak Saturday, taking on Minnesota-Morris in a road conference doubleheader.
 
Sometimes, a long trip can lead to the traveling team having "bus legs," but Yellowjacket head coach Melissa Fracker's team came out hot Saturday, taking game one before being forced to settle for a split in the rematch.
 
After Saturday's results, the Yellowjackets (11-7, 4-2 UMAC) sit in fourth place in the conference standings.
 
Game One
The Yellowjackets played small ball to perfection in the top of the first inning, and in the process put four runs on the board against Morris starter Abby Wothe, who lasted just one inning.
 
The first three hitters for the Yellowjackets – Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights), Olivia Bancroft-Hart (Cambria, Wis./Cambria-Friesland) and Tiffany Kirk (McHenry, Ill./McHenry East) all reached base on bunt singles, loading the bases. Kaela Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) got the scoring started with a single to right field, scoring two runs and putting runners on the corners. Kraemer then stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
 
Kirk came into score on a Marley Burd (Glendale, Ariz./Centennial) single, and Kraemer scored the fourth run of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Davriana Horvath (Esko, Minn./Esko).
 
In the third the 'Jackets plated another when Kaela Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) singled, advanced to second on an error, when to third on a ground out, and scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Yellowjackers scored twice more in the fourth to make it 7-0. Pinch runner Amanda Kishish (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) went to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on an infield single from Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights), and scored on an error. Kraemer then scored on a single by Bancroft-Hart.
 
Morris scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth and then added another in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the Yellowjacket lead.

The 'Jackets got one of the runs back in the top of the seventh when Horvath singled home Bryton Kukowski (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown) to make the final score 8-2.
 
Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) went 3-for-3 in the first game to pace the Yellowjackets at the plate. She also scored twice. Bancroft-Hart, Kirk, Kaela Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights), and Horvath also had multi-hit games.
 
In the circle Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) went the distance, allowing two runs on eight hits in the complete game win. She walked three and struck out six.
 
Game Two
The offense dried up a little bit in the second game for the Yellowjackets, as they were only able to muster two runs on five hits as the Cougars earned the split with a 3-1 win.
 
Morris opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a single run, but the Yellowjackets took the lead in the top of the second.
 
Kaela Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) singled and stole second, and Kukowski followed with a walk. Horvath brought in Kraemer with a single to right, and Jess Jacobson brought in Kukowski with a single to left, putting the Yellowjackets ahead 2-1.
 
Morris took over from there, scoring twice in the bottom of the third and adding an insurance run in the fifth to make the final 4-2.
 
Malania Madill (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge) started in the circle and allowed three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings. She was relieved by Kishish, who went the rest of the way, allowing a run on three hits while striking out three.
 
Next up for the Yellowjackets is a road doubleheader at St. Scholastica Wednesday, April 21. The first pitch at Kenwood Field is set for 3;30 p.m.