SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Yellowjacket softball team returned to the NBC Spartan Sports Complex Tuesday, facing off against former Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) foe UW-Stout. The 'Jackets came into Tuesday with an 11-game winning streak, dating back to their spring break trip to Florida.
The Blue Devils made their presence felt early, scoring four runs in the first inning and snapping the Yellowjackets' hot streak by a score of 5-2. UW-Superior stood back up in game two, but UW-Stout kept clawing their way back into the game before
Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) launched a ball over the left center wall to secure the 8-6 victory in the bottom of the 12th inning.
The game two win was also the 100th victory for head coach
Melissa Fracker since taking over the helm in 2020.
Game One Notes
- The Blue Devils came out swinging early, as Ashley Jacobson clubbed a moon shot to left field for an early 1-0 lead. UW-Stout would score four total runs on four hits in the opening frame.
- UW-Stout scored their final run of the game in the top of the fourth, courtesy of a Katelyn Belleau RBI single.
- UWS responded in the bottom of the fourth, as MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) deposited a home run over the left center field fence, cutting the Blue Devil lead down to four runs.
- In the bottom of the seventh inning, Leccia hit another long ball to bring the game to 5-2, but the Yellowjackets were unable to muster any additional offense.
- Bella Garley (Albuquerque, N.M./Porter (Tex.)) started in the circle and pitched a full seven innings but was tagged for 12 hits and five runs.
- UW-Stout's Mackensie Wolterstorff picked up the victory, pitching seven innings allowing just four hits and two runs while striking out four.
- Leccia led the Yellowjackets' offensive category, going 2-3 with two RBIs.
Game Two Notes
- The Yellowjackets scored first in game two, as Carly Stuckmayer (Delano, Minn./Delano Senior) scored on a pass ball to give UWS an early 1-0 lead.
- UW-Stout responded right away, scoring two runs off an RBI double from Sammy Noreen and a sacrifice bunt from Katelyn Belleau.
- Stephanie Kuhn sent a ball over the center field fence in the top of the third, scoring Alyssa Albrecht who reached on an infield single and giving the Blue Devils a 4-1 edge.
- The 'Jackets responded right away and snatched the lead back with five consecutive hits, beginning with a single from Larissa Synder and a double by Thomson. Ellie Macal (Winona, Minn./Cotter) would single up the middle and get into scoring position after Snyder crossed home and Thomson reached third.
- Indigo Fish (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) joined the party, notching a two RBI double to left center to tie things up at four runs apiece.
- Leccia continued her hot day at the plate, doubling to score Fish to give the 'Jackets a 5-4 lead before UW-Stout took one back and knotted things at 5-5.
- Receiving a pinch-hit opportunity in the bottom of the fifth inning was Jenna Hoops (Woodbury, Minn./Visitation School), who singled to score Fish and gave UWS a one-run edge before Stephanie Kuhn homered again to create yet another logjam at six runs apiece.
- As the game entered extra innings, the International Tie Breaker rule went into effect, meaning the last out of the previous inning was placed at second base.
- Despite a runner being placed in scoring position, both teams were unable to score until the bottom of the 12th inning, as Thomson unloaded on a pitch to left center to walk it off for the Yellowjackets.
- Exactly two years ago, Thomson would also club a walk off home run versus Bethany Lutheran. Furthermore, both at bats were 1-1 counts.
- This was the first win over the Blue Devils since 2013.
The Yellowjackets will now prepare to take on North Central in a three-game series. Game one is set to take place Friday at 3 p.m. in the West St. Paul Sports Center.
