SAINT PAUL, Minn. – A day after posting 38 runs and 37 hits in a doubleheader sweep of North Central, the Yellowjacket baseball was back at it Monday, and had another big day at the plate.
 
The Yellowjackets pounded out 10 hits and hit double digit runs for the sixth time in seven games, as they defeated North Central 11-1 in eight innings at Reynolds Field, on the campus of the University of Northwestern.

With the victory, the Yellowjackets (19-11, 15-3 UMAC), have now won eight games in a row and during that span have outscored their opponents 96-5. The win also clinched a winning season for the playoff-bound Yellowjackets, marking the first time since 1975 a UW-Superior baseball team will finish a season with a winning record.
 
Ben Welle (Melrose, Minn./Melrose Area) made his sixth start of the year on the mound and went six innings to get the win, evening his record at 3-3. He allowed one run on five hits. Riley Harbaugh (Banks, Ore./Banks) pitched the final two innings and was impressive, allowing one and striking out five.
 
The Yellowjackets opened the scoring in the top of the first when one of the Yellowjackets' hottest hitters, Christian Garcia (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs), laced a double that brought home two runs. North Central answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring once to make it a 2-1 game with the 'Jackets in front.
 
After a scoreless second the Yellowjackets gave themselves some breathing room with a four-run third.
 
And once again Garcia did the damage. With two runners in scoring position, Garcia singled to right field to put the Yellowjackets up 4-1. Isaac Fugere (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) followed with a long home run, his team-leading fifth of the season, increasing the Yellowjacket lead to 6-1.
 
It stayed that way until the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Brian O'Dwyer (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove Senior) doubled to left field, scoring Ben Rhodes (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), Fugere, and Nick Fredrikson (Minneapolis, Minn./St. Anthony Village). Two hitters later Jonny Rhoded brought home O'Dwyer with the 10th run of the game for the Yellowjackets.
 
In the top of the eighth the Yellowjackets closed out the scoring, with Fugere doubling to bring home Steiner, making the final score 11-1.
 
Fugere terrorized the Rams' pitching staff this weekend. After going 8-for-8 in two games Sunday, Fugere was 2-for-4 Monday, scoring twice and driving in four runs. Garcia also had a big weekend, capping things with a 3-for-5 game that saw him drive in three runs Monday.

The Yellowjackets outhit North Central 10-6 in the game.
 
Next up for the Yellowjackets in a huge weekend series with Crown College. The Yellowjackets and Polars are among the top three teams in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, and the three games will be key with regard to seeding in the post-season tournament.
 
The first pitch of the series is set for 2 p.m. Friday at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex.