SAINT PAUL, Minn. – After competing in non-conference action against the College of St. Scholastica Wednesday, the Yellowjacket baseball team returned to Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action against Northwestern on Thursday.
 
The 'Jackets drew first blood, but a five-run inning from the Eagles saw them take the lead before UWS responded with a quick three spot, boosting them over Northwestern by a score of 9-5.
 
Game Notes

• UW-Superior scored first in the top of the third, as Jonny Rhodes (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) reached on an error before being driven in by Nick Fredrikson (Minneapolis, Minn./St. Anthony Village), clubbing an RBI double to left.
• A lineout by Payton Steiner (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) scored Fredrikson, giving the 'Jackets a 2-0 edge.
• After a double to left center by Isaac Fugere (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East), Trey Sybrant (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael-Albertville Senior) notched an RBI single to left field making it 3-0.
• Yellowjacket starter Ben Welle (Melrose, Minn./Melrose Area) was able to pitch the first three innings unharmed, but the Eagles put up a five-run inning to go out in front 5-3.
• UWS responded right away with three runs off five hits in the following frame. After back-to-back singles by Fredrikson and Noah Dagostino (Andover, Minn./Andover), Tanner Voight (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) smashed a double to score Fredrikson, but the Eagles executed a perfect relay to gun down Dagostino trying to score.
• That wouldn't be all for the Yellowjackets, though, as Fugere kept the bats rolling with a single to left, scoring Voight. Trey Sybrant (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael-Albertville Senior) upped his hitting streak to eight games as he doubled to right center, cashing in Fugere and regaining the lead 6-5.
• After Welle escaped the bottom of the fourth, the Yellowjackets called upon submarine specialist Ethan Coady (Toronto, Ontario/Etobicoke School of the Arts), who was lights out until the last pitch. He only allowed three hits while fanning two.
• Steiner commenced the top of the seventh inning with an opposite field home run, ultimately running Eagles starter Nick Drinken out of the game. He would allow 11 hits off seven runs in six innings of work.
• Two huge insurance runs came in the top of the ninth, as Jordan Trimble (Victorville, Calif./Grandview (Colo.)) came up with the bases loaded and reached on an infield single, plating Voight who doubled to center earlier in the inning. Brian O'Dwyer (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove Senior) would do the same, this time plating Fugere who drew a walk in his at bat.
• Fredrikson and Dagostino each compiled three hits on the evening, while four different Yellowjackets ended with two.
• Coady picked up his third win of the season Thursday.

 
The Yellowjackets, who are the first team within the UMAC to qualify for the conference tournament, is set to face the Eagles Saturday. The doubleheader is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Reynolds Field.
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