AUBURNDALE, Fla. – After suffering a lost in Monday's contest, the Yellowjacket baseball team returned to action facing off against Beloit College. The Buccaneers and 'Jackets met in Florida last season, earning a doubleheader split in two solid baseball games.
Tuesday's contest was within reach for either squad, as pitching and defense paved the way for offense to show up in the later innings. Beloit struck first in the bottom of the sixth inning, but UWS answered back and took the lead before the Buccaneers tied things up in the following frame. Their final run would come in dramatic fashion, as Beloit won in walk-off fashion by a score of 3-2.
Game Notes
- Neither team was able to produce a run in the first five innings of play.
- Receiving the nod for the 'Jackets was Ben Welle (Melrose, Minn./Melrose Area), and he did a fine job. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing just one hit, one run, three walks and eight strikeouts receiving a no-decision.
- Brian O'Dwyer (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove Senior) tallied the first Yellowjacket hit, singling through the right side of the infield. He would advance on a sacrifice bunt from Jonny Rhodes (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) and ultimately reach third, but was unable to get cashed in.
- The Buccaneers began the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk to Matt O'Leary, who stole second and was moved to third before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Brett Kiger. Welle's outing would be finished and the Yellowjackets would call upon lefty Declan Higgins (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle) to toe the rubber.
- UWS answered back in the following frame, as Jordan Trimble (Victorville, Calif./Grandview (Colo.)) hit a single through the five-six hole. Isaac Fugere (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) followed with a single of his own before Trey Sybrant (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael-Albertville Senior) advanced the runners in a pinch-hitting spot. O'Dwyer would strike with a huge two RBI double.
- Higgins found himself in a jam during the bottom of the seventh inning, but the 'Jackets turned to submarine pitcher Ethan Coady (Toronto, Ontario/Etobicoke School of the Arts). In his only batter faced, he drew a sacrifice fly.
- Following Coady's out, Adam Jensen (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd) came in and did well in his appearance. He finished his game with 1.2 innings pitched, allowing just one walk and striking out two.
- In the bottom of the ninth, the Buccaneers had a runner in scoring position before Jack Alport drilled a double into right field. Nick Fredrikson (Minneapolis, Minn./St. Anthony Village) gunned the runner out on home with a perfect one-hop throw to get the out, but Alport advanced to second on the throw. O'Leary would follow with a single to center field, but Fredrikson's throw wasn't in time as Beloit walked it off.
The Yellowjackets will have a day off before facing Dickinson for two games. First pitch of the afternoon doubleheader is slated for 2:15 p.m. CT.
