DULUTH, Minn. – The Yellowjacket baseball team continued their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) series with Minnesota Morris Sunday at Wade Stadium. It was a gorgeous afternoon for baseball, with temperatures reaching 60 degrees throughout the day.
Both squads really wanted to soak up the warm temperatures, as game one needed 13 innings, and every bit of four hours and ten minutes. After UWS and Minnesota Morris combining for 41 hits and 31 runs, the Yellowjackets came out in front, winning in walk off fashion by a score of 16-15. Game two was a snappy two hours and 12 minutes, which saw UWS complete the series sweep against the Cougars 10-4.
Game One Notes
- The Cougars once again struck first in game two of the circuit series, notching a run in the top of the second inning off Ben Welle (Melrose, Minn./Melrose Area).
- UWS responded right away, as Isaac Fugere (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) singled up the middle before a double down the right field line from Payton Steiner (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) gave Noah Dagostino (Andover, Minn./Andover) an opportunity to score with two men on base.
- Dagostino came through with a two RBI single, who bumped up to second on the throw. Singles from Brian O'Dwyer (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove Senior) and Wylee Arro (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) gave UWS a 3-1 edge.
- Minnesota Morris decided to flip the script Sunday, as they put up a seven-run inning of their own, which featured five hits and two errors as they snatched back the lead at 8-3. Welle would be relieved by Miles Kay (Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) who limited the damage.
- The 'Jackets continued to answer back, commencing with a single by Tanner Voight (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) before Steiner crushed a triple to center field. A Dagostino RBI single scored Steiner to trail by three.
- UWS made it a tie ball game in the bottom of the fifth, collecting three runs on three hits and a Cougars error. The 'Jackets took the lead in the next inning with a Trey Sybrant (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael-Albertville Senior) triple to right center field. Fugere executed a sacrifice fly, then Voight doubled to right center field before Steiner notched an RBI single, giving the Yellowjackets a 10-8 edge.
- Josh Osten's afternoon would wrap up, allowing 15 hits and 10 runs in six innings of work for Minnesota Morris. Breckin Silvain relieved Osten but was welcomed to the game with a four-run inning, giving the Yellowjackets a 14-8 lead.
- The Cougars clawed their way back, regaining the lead after a seven-run inning off six hits and a Yellowjacket error to lead 15-14.
- UWS was down to its last strike before Voight clobbered a solo shot to left field, erupting the Yellowjacket bench and knotting things up at 15 runs apiece.
- Both teams threatened to take the lead but pitching and defense stepped up for both the 'Jackets and Cougars.
- During the bottom of the 13th inning, Fredrikson started the action with a double into the left center gap. Jonny Rhodes (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) came in as a pinch hitter but was plunked before Fugere reached on an error by the Cougars' centerfielder.
- Voight stepped into the box with the bases loaded and nearly ended things on a high note, as he unloaded on a pitch over the left field wall that was called foul. This wouldn't matter, however, as he lined a single into right center field to secure a 16-15 victory in walk off fashion.
- Voight shined in the contest, going 5-6 with two RBIs while scoring four runs. Steiner's first game saw him finishing 5-7 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
- After notching his first collegiate hit Saturday, Arro turned in a 3-6 outing with three RBIs and one run scored.
- UWS turned to five pitchers in the contest (Welle, Kay, Adam Jensen (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd), Declan Higgins (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle) and Ethan Coady (Toronto, Ontario/Etobicoke School of the Arts)). Coady was tabbed with the victory, who currently sits at 2-0 on the campaign.
- The Yellowjackets erupted for 16 runs on 23 hits in the doubleheader opener.
Game Two Notes
- It was the Yellowjackets who struck first, which started with Sybrant reaching on an error from the Cougars' second baseman. After stealing second, Fugere cashed him in with a single to center.
- The bottom of the fourth inning saw the 'Jackets score two more off three hits and an error. Voight was hit by a pitch and advanced to second, which was followed by an RBI single from Sybrant. He later scored on a fielder's choice for a 3-0 lead.
- Four more runs came in the next inning, as Voight was once again plunked before Steiner reached on an error by the third baseman. Another Sybrant single plated Voight, Fugere drew a bases-loaded walk and O'Dwyer roped a two RBI single up the middle, as UWS took a 7-0 lead.
- The eighth run of the game for the Yellowjackets came by way of the long ball, as Voight deposited a ball over the batter's eye in centerfield.
- Minnesota Morris ended the shutout in the top of the seventh inning, as their leadoff hitter singled and was cashed in on a sacrifice fly and another single cashed in their second run of the contest.
- Trimble opened the bottom of the seventh with a double down the left field line and O'Dwyer tripled to center before Rhodes singled through the right side to extend the Yellowjacket lead to 10-2.
- Gio Basile (Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire North) came into relieve Yellowjacket starter Aiden Pfeifer (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) in the top of the eighth. He allowed one hit and two runs, but ultimately shut the door and secured the series sweep over the Cougars 10-4.
- Sybrant and Trimble each went 2-4 in the game, while O'Dwyer led the offense going 3-4 with three RBIs.
- Pfeifer collected his fifth win, pitching seven innings. He allowed just seven hits and two runs while striking out six.
- The Yellowjackets added 10 more hits to their day total of 33 hits.
UW-Superior (17-12, 12-3 UMAC) currently shares first place in conference standings, joining Bethany Lutheran and Northwestern in the logjam.
The Yellowjackets will return to Wade Stadium for a non-conference game against bridge-rival St. Scholastica. The single nine inning game is set for Wednesday at 4 p.m.
