SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The snow has been melting at a rapid clip in the Twin Ports over the past few days, unfortunately for the Yellowjacket softball team, the clip hasn't been fast enough to free their home turf from the grip of winter. As a result, Tuesday's Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) doubleheader had to be moved.
 
Two-and-a-half hours to the south, the field at the University of Northwestern was clear, and it like the Yellowjacket baseball team did Monday, the Yellowjackets played home games there Tuesday, taking on North Central in what they hope will be their final home games of the season played away from home.
 
If it was the last set of home games away from home, the Yellowjackets went out on the highest of notes, sweeping two from North Central. The Yellowjackets defeated the Rams 16-4 in the opener before rolling to an 15-2 win in the second game, completing the sweep.
 
With the win, the Yellowjackets (14-4, 4-0 UMAC) extend their win streak to seven games.

Game One
Things were dicey early for the Yellowjackets in this one, as the Rams took advantage of an erratic start by pitcher Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights). The reigning UMAC Pitcher of the Week allowed just one hit, but four walks came back to haunt her and the Yellowjackets, as the Rams built a 4-0 lead. Kraemer was relieved by Samantha Swartz (Antigo, Wis./Antigo) before recording an out.
 
In the bottom of the inning the Yellowjackets cut the deficit in half, getting a pair of runs on a single to left by Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson). In the bottom of the second the Yellowjackets came all the way back and took the lead for good. Swartz scored the third Yellowjacket run on a sacrifice fly, and then MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) walked bringing home Bryton Kukowski (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown) with the tying run. Nora Schmitz put the Yellowjackets in front when she stole home, and Thomson doubled to center field, bringing home another run making it 6-4.
 
The Yellowjackets exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third inning to put the game out of reach.
 
Swartz started things with a one-out double and came around to score the inning's first run on an error. Larissa Snyder (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) brought in two more runs with a double to left, and she later scored courtesy of another North Central error. Later in the inning, Ellie Macal (Winona, Minn./Cotter) drove in two runs when she reached on an error. Swartz followed with an RBI-single to center, making it a 13-4 Yellowjacket lead.
 
The 'Jackets closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fourth. Thomson recorded her fourth hit of the game, a single to center, scoring two runs, and Jenna Hoops (Woodbury, Minn./Visitation School) followed with a double to right field, scoring pinch runner Maddelyn Swanson (Solon Springs, Wis./Solon Springs) with the final run in a 16-4 rout.
 
Thomson had a huge game at the plate for the Yellowjackets, going 4-for-4 with a double and five runs batted in. Swartz went 3-for-3 at the plate, scored twice and drove in a run. Kukowski also added two hits and two runs scored to pace the Yellowjacket attack.
 
After coming on in relief, Swartz went the rest of the way to improve to 2-0 on the year. She gave up four runs on two hits while striking out six and walking five.

Game Two
The Yellowjackets made sure there was zero drama in the second game, setting the Rams down in order in the top of the first before sending 16 hitters to the plate and scoring 12 times to put it out of reach early.
 
Hoops got the scoring started with a one-out double to left, scoring Kraemer. Thomson continued her hot hitting, singling to left to score Hoops with the second run. Cassie Bergman (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly, and the lead was extended again when Schmitz doubled to center field to score Macal.
 
Leccia singled up the middle, scoring both Schmitz and Izzy Lingle (Enumclaw, Wash./Enumclaw) to make it a 6-0 game. Leccia scored when Snyder doubled in her second at bat of the inning, then Snyder came in on Kraemer's double to left. Thomson closed out the scoring with a triple to right field, plating Kraemer and Hoops before scoring herself on an error, putting the 'Jackets up by a dozen.
 
In the bottom of the second Leccia produced a one-out single and scored when Snyder drove a triple to right. Snyder then scored to make it 14-0 on Kraemer's infield single.
 
North Central broke the shutout bid in the top of the fourth, scoring twice, before the Yellowjackets closed out the scoring in the bottom of the inning. Lily Hanson (Cloquet, Minn./Esko) hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Georgia Youngblood (Ray, Mich./Lutheran North), making the final 15-2.
 
Thomson again led the charge offensively for the Yellowjackets, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three driven in. In the doubleheader, Thomson went 6-for-6 with a double, triple, three runs scored and eight driven in.
 
After going hitless in the opener, Macal went 3-for-4 in the second game. The 'Jackets also got two hits each from Snyder, Kraemer and Leccia. For the game the Yellowjackets outhit North Central 15-1.
 
Emma Pillion (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa Township) got the start in the circle and earned the win, improving to 3-1 on the year. She allowed two runs on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. Youngblood pitched a pair of scoreless inning to close out the game, recording four strikeouts.
 
Next up for the Yellowjackets are games in the first UMAC Crossover of 2023, beginning with a tilt against Crown College Friday, Apr. 14. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. in St. Bonifacius, Minn.