SUPERIOR, Wis. – For as long as it took for the Yellowjacket softball team to get a game on their home turf in 2023, it was crazy to think Tuesday's doubleheader will be the last time the Yellowjackets play at home this season.

And what a way to send the home field out, not to mention the senior class.

The Yellowjackets had the offense rolling in both games of Tuesday's doubleheader, defeating Northland 10-2 in the opening game before rolling past the LumberJills 17-5 in game two.
 
With the wins the Yellowjackets (26-7, 16-3 UMAC) have now won four games in a row and maintain their hold on second place in the conference.

Game One
After a snappy seven-pitch top of the first inning, Yellowjacket pitcher Tayler Kraemer (Spring Green, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) got the scoring started on a unique play.

Kraemer's fly ball was dropped by Northland's left fielder, who then picked up the ball and had her throw get away from the infielders. Kraemer came all the way around to score, putting the Yellowjackets up 1-0.
 
In the second, Northland moved ahead 2-1 when Elizabeth Peters homererd to left center.

The Yellowjackets answered and took the lead for good in the bottom of the second, scoring five times to put the game out of reach.

Samantha Swartz (Antigo, Wis./Antigo) led off with a double down the right field line and came around to score on a Northland error. MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) doubled to right center to put two runners in scoring position, and Larissa Snyder (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) singled through the right side to bring them both home and make it 4-2. Later in the inning the Yellowjackets again had runners on second and third, and Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) made it 5-2 with a single through the right side. Kraemer scored the final run of the inning on a groundout, and after two the 'Jackets led 6-2.
 
It stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth when the Yellowjackets tacked on four more.
 
Kraemer singled and stole second before coming home on another Thomson single. Two hitters later, pinch runner Maddelyn Swanson (Solon Springs, Wis./Solon Springs) scored when Jenna Hoops (Woodbury, Minn./Visitation School) doubled to right center. Then, with two runners in scoring position, Izzy Lingle (Enumclaw, Wash./Enumclaw) produced a run-scoring double to left field, scoring two more to make it a 10-2 game.
 
Northland go the run that would have staved off the run rule into scoring position in the top of the fifth, but the Yellowjackets closed out the inning and the game.
 
The Yellowjackets had 12 hits in the game, with Kraemer, Thomson, Macal and Swartz all having two. Thomson and Lingle each drove in two.
 
Kraemer got the win in the circle, going the distance and allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts to improve to 16-6 on the year.
 
Game Two
In the second game, the Yellowjackets turned to the long ball, hitting three home runs on the way to a one-sided win.
 
The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, getting an RBI single from Thomson, followed by a two-run home run to center by Macal, her second of the year.
 
Northland got a two-run homer of its own in the top of the second, as Alison Murphy went deep to right center, cutting the Yellowjacket lead down to 3-2.
 
In the bottom of the second the Yellowjackets extended the lead with another three-run inning. This time it was Leccia doing the damage, hitting her fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot to make it 6-2.
 
The Yellowjackets then blew the game open in the bottom of the third.
 
Swartz led off with a single, Bryton Kukowski (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown) was hit by a pitch and Tiffany Kirk (McHenry, Ill./McHenry East) walked to load the bases. Leccia singled down the line in left to score two and make it 8-2. After another walk loaded the bases, Kraemer singled through the left side to bring home a run and keep the bases loaded. Thomson followed with her fourth home run of the year, a grand slam over the fence in right center, and just like that the 'Jackets were up 13-2.
 
Later in the third, Kirk lined a hard single to center, scoring Hoops and Leccia drove in two more with a single to make it 16-2. The Yellowjackets scored their final run of the game on a single by Snyder.
 
Northland had just one hit heading into the top of the fifth inning, but they began to string a few together and scored three times in the frame. Unfortunately for them it was too little, too late, and the Yellowjackets finished the inning to complete the sweep.
 
Leccia had herself a game, going 3-for-3, scoring three times and driving in seven. Thomson also went 3-for-3 in the game and drove in five. In the two games, Thomson had five hits in six at bats and drove in seven.
 
Emma Pillion (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa Township) got the start and went the distance in the circle to improve to 6-1 on the season. She allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
 
Next up for the Yellowjackets is a road trip to Menomonie, Wis. where they will play a non-conference doubleheader against UW-Stout Thursday, May 4. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Alumni Field.