RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Yellowjacket baseball team hit the road Saturday to face off against another Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) foe in Augsburg. Despite losing two games to a tough Saint John's squad, it was only a matter of time before the bats came alive for the 'Jackets.
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It took a few innings, but Saturday was that day as UWS compiled 11 hits in game one to earn a 7-0 victory over the Auggies. The offensive output from game one carried into the second game, as the Yellowjackets earned the day sweep with a 10-1 victory, notching their first victories of the 2024 season.
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The pitching staff was also on point, allowing just one run and five hits across both contests.
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Game One Notes
- The doubleheader was played under MIAC stipulations, with game one set at seven innings and the second game at nine.
- The early innings were lightning quick, as teams went three up and three down until Augsburg reached on an error in the bottom of the third inning.
- Noah Dagostino (Andover, Minn./Andover) tallied the first hit and run for the 'Jackets, as he reached on a single and was later driven in by Isaac Fugere (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) in the top of the fourth inning.
- Trey Sybrant (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael-Albertville Senior) followed things up right away, swinging at the first pitch he saw and doubled to score the second run.
- Trouble sparked for the 'Jackets in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Yellowjacket starter Zach Romans (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael) caught a line drive and turned a double play to thwart any Auggie runs from scoring.
- UWS scored three more runs in the top of the fifth, courtesy of a Dagostino RBI single and a double to left field by Tanner Voight (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area).
- Romans was firing on all cylinders. Picking up his first victory as a Yellowjacket, he finished the game hurling six innings of shutout baseball, allowing just three hits with only one walk and six strikeouts.
- Pitching the final frame for the 'Jackets was newcomer Adam Jensen (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd), who walked the first batter he faced but settled down to force a 4-6-3 double play. He then pitched another grounder to finish the game.
- Dagostino led the Yellowjackets, going 3-4 on the afternoon. Fugere finished the game with a game-high three RBIs.
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Game Two Notes
- UWS notched its first run in the bottom of the second inning, as O'Dwyer hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Maxton Howell (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) who doubled earlier in the inning.
- In the bottom of the sixth inning, Voight belted a two-run home run to deep left center field to give the 'Jackets a 3-0 lead. On the very next pitch, Fugere roped a double down the left field line, prompting a pitching change from Augsburg.
- Starting in game two for UWS was Aiden Pfeifer (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie), who allowed his first hit of the contest in the top of the seventh, as Keegan O'Conner sent a ball over the right field wall.
- The Yellowjackets had the bases loaded in the bottom half of the seventh and put up a five spot, beginning with a single courtesy of Mason McKellar (Nashotah, Wis./Arrowhead).
- Payton Steiner (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) notched a pinch-hit double to help extend the 'Jackets' lead to 8-1.
- Pfeifer's afternoon was finished after pitching seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits while fanning five.
- The 'Jackets turned to southpaw Declan Higgins (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle) for the remainder of the game, as he shut the door securing the second victory of the day.
- Augsburg used five different pitchers in the game.
- O'Connor led the Auggies at the plate, notching their only two hits.
- Nick Fredrikson (Minneapolis, Minn./St. Anthony Village) finished the game going 3-5 with a double. He also stole a base.
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The Yellowjackets will finish the three-game series against Augsburg Sunday. First pitch at FNBRF Field is set for 12 p.m.
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