NEW ULM, Minn. – Win two games, and you're in the UMAC tournament. That was the simple message for the Yellowjacket softball team Saturday.
 
After going 1-3 against Northland and Bethany Lutheran earlier, in the week, the Yellowjackets entered play Saturday needing a sweep to cement themselves in the conference tournament. Standing in the way was Martin Luther, who, like the Yellowjackets, needed two wins to secure a place in the post-season.
 
Win and you get in. It's that simple.
 
The Yellowjackets got masterful pitching in the first contest and had the offense come alive in the second on the way to a sweep of the Knights, winning 3-0 and 10-4 at the MLC Softball Field.
 
With the wins, the Yellowjackets (16-12, 9-7 UMAC) will enter the UMAC tournament as the No. 5 seed. The tournament will get underway May 13 at St. Scholastica.
 
Game One
Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) got the start in the circle and turned in one of her best performances of the season, going the distance and allowing just two hits while walking two and striking out seven. She's now 9-7 on the year.
 
It was a scoreless battle through five until the Yellowjackets got all the runs they would need in the top of the sixth inning.
 
Kaileigh Miller (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) got the inning started with a walk and was sacrificed to second. She went to third on a Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) single, putting runners on the corners. Miller then stole second and the 'Jackets were in business, with two runners in scoring position and just one out. Miller and Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) scored when Olivia Bancroft-Hart (Cambria, Wis./Cambria-Friesland) reached on an error, and Tiffany Kirk (McHenry, Ill./McHenry East) followed with a double, bringing home Bancroft-Hart, giving the Yellowjackets a 3-0 lead.
 
Pitching and defense took over from there, and the 'Jackets took the first game without the Knights mounting a late threat.
 
Five different players had hits in the game for the Yellowjackets.

Game Two
The Yellowjackets didn't waste any times getting things going in the second game, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first inning.
 
Kaela Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) led off with a double and quickly stole third before coming home on a single up the middle by Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) to get things started. Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) advanced to second on a passed ball and took third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Bancorft-Hart infield single. Kirk would follow with a double, scoring Bancroft-Hart with the inning's third run.
 
The Yellowjackets added to the lead in the second.
 
Marley Burd (Glendale, Ariz./Centennial) led off the inning with a home run. Miller followed with a single and a stolen base to move into scoring position. Kaela Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) walked and the Yellowjackets followed with a double steal, putting two runners in scoring position with just one out. Miller scored on a ground out and Bancroft-Hart brought ohme Kraemer to extend the Yellowjacket lead. Bancroft hard would steal second and advance to third on a ground out before scoring on an error to give the Yellowjackets a 7-0 lead.
 
In the fifth Burd singled to left field to bring Erika Mattson (Ely, Minn./Ely Memorial) home with the eighth run of the game.
 
Martin Luther broke the Yellowjacket shutout in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four times to cut the Yellowjacket lead in half at 8-4.
 
Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) started the sixth for the Yellowjackets, reaching on an error with one out. She went to third on a Bancroft-Hart single and both runners came home when Kirk doubled to left center, making the final score 10-4.
 
Kirk had a strong game at the plate for the Yellowjackets, going 2-for-4 with three driven in. Bancroft-Hart went 3-for-3, scored three runs and drove in two. Burd also had two hits and two driven in for the Yellowjackets.
 
Amanda Kishish (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) got the start in the circle and earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the year. She allowed three runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) finished the game off, allowing one run on four hits to pick up her first save of the year.
 
The Yellowjackets are back in action Wednesday, May 5 when they travel to Gustavus Adolphus. The opening pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. in St. Peter, Minnesota.