PELLA, Iowa – Thursday marked the sixth time in program history that the Yellowjacket softball team reached the NCAA Division III Regionals after snatching its fourth Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) title. The 'Jackets opened Thursday by facing regional-host Central College.
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The Dutch leaped to an early 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning before scoring in the third, fourth and fifth innings to defeat UWS by a score of 10-2.
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Game Notes
- The other two teams selected in the regional were UW-Whitewater and Bethel from the neighboring Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences (MIAC).
- UWS opened the contest with a lineout from Carly Stuckmayer (Delano, Minn./Delano Senior) that nearly got past first base, but a heads-up play limited her chances of getting on base.
- Larissa Snyder (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) drilled a single to right field before stealing second, allowing the three-hitter Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) to hit with a runner in scoring position. Thomson reached on a fielder's choice which saw Snyder get to third.
- Cleanup hitter Ellie Macal (Winona, Minn./Cotter) roped a liner to second base, but the Dutch escaped with a 4-3 double play.
- Bella Garley (Albuquerque, N.M./Porter (Tex.)) was given the ball in the opener, but she was tagged for six runs on four hits with an error, as the Dutch took advantage of defensive miscues.
- The 'Jackets finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, as Stuckmayer and Snyder hit back-to-back singles before a Dutch throwing error saw Stuckmayer touch home after a stolen base.
- A leadoff walk for Central in the bottom half of the inning came across, giving the Dutch a 7-1 edge. In the fourth they tallied another on a double to the outfield.
- Snyder ignited the Yellowjacket dugout after blasting a solo homer over the right centerfield fence. This saw Thomson and Macal single, but the Dutch got out of the jam.
- Central walked it off in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs to trigger the eight-run rule.
- Snyder led the offensive output by collecting three of the 'Jackets' eight total hits. She also added a run scored, two stolen bases and an RBI.
- Franie Burnett and Mariah Parton each had multi-hit games for the Dutch.
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The Yellowjackets will now wait to play the loser of Bethel and UW-Whitewater Friday in an elimination game. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. in Pella, Iowa.
