NAPLES, Fla. – The UW-Superior softball team split a pair of games Monday at North Collier Regional Park, falling to Westfield State before rebounding with a dominant victory over La Roche.
The Yellowjackets, now 9-4 overall on the season, dropped an 11-6 decision to Westfield State in the opener but responded emphatically, routing La Roche 18-4 in five innings.
The Yellowjackets saw mixed results in the circle Monday.
Bella Garley (Albuquerque, N.M./Porter (Tex.)) started against Westfield State but struggled, allowing six runs in the second inning before
Samantha Swartz (Antigo, Wis./Antigo) stepped in for six innings of relief, surrendering five runs on nine hits. In game two, Garley rebounded with three scoreless innings against La Roche to earn the win, while
Emma Pillion (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa Township) closed out the game, allowing four runs over two innings.
Game One Notes
- The Yellowjackets jumped out to an early 3-2 lead in the first inning, highlighted by an Ellie Macal (Winona, Minn./Cotter) two-run homer and an RBI double from Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson).
- UW-Superior tallied 11 hits, with Peyton Bennett (Harrisburg, S.D./Harrisburg) leading the way, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base.
- Carly Stuckmayer (Delano, Minn./Delano) sparked the offense, reaching base twice and stealing two bases to set up key scoring opportunities.
- Swartz provided a boost at the plate, leading off the second inning with a double and later scoring.
- Lily Hanson (Cloquet, Minn./Esko) executed a key sacrifice bunt, advancing two runners into scoring position before UW-Superior cut the deficit to 8-6.
- The Yellowjackets had chances late, putting runners on in the third, fifth, and seventh innings but were unable to capitalize.
- Westfield's offense was relentless, tallying 16 hits, including a six-run second inning that put the Yellowjackets in a deficit they couldn't overcome.
Game Two Notes
- The Yellowjackets' offense erupted, scoring in every inning but the sixth en route to an 18-run, 22-hit outburst.
- A six-run second inning put the Yellowjackets in command early, featuring RBIs from Thomson, MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset), and Garley.
- Thomson and Mackenzie Bird (Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie) powered the offense with four RBIs each.
- The Yellowjackets hit six doubles, including extra-base knocks from Kylie Hochsprung (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North), Macal, Megan Witt (Burnsville, Minn./Eagan), and Pillion.
- Garley bounced back from game one, tossing three scoreless innings, while Pillion finished the job despite La Roche scoring four runs in the fourth inning.
- 15 different Yellowjackets saw at-bats, with every starter recording at least one hit.
The Yellowjackets return to action Wednesday, March 12 at North Collier Regional Park, facing Westfield State at 8 a.m. CDT and Lesley at 10 a.m. CDT.
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