NAPLES, Fla. – The UW-Superior softball team split a pair of games Wednesday at North Collier Regional Park, falling to Westfield State before rebounding with a dominant victory over Lesley.
The Yellowjackets, now 10-4 overall on the season, suffered a tough 10-1 defeat to Westfield State in the opener but responded emphatically, rolling past Lesley 13-2 in seven innings.
The Yellowjackets had mixed results in the circle Wednesday.
Bella Garley (Albuquerque, N.M./Porter (Tex.)) started game one, allowing one run through five strong innings.
Samantha Swartz (Antigo, Wis./Antigo) entered in relief with the score knotted at 1-1 but struggled, surrendering seven runs in a nine-run inning and taking the loss. In game two, Garley bounced back, earning the win with four strong innings, striking out seven while allowing just one unearned run.
Game One Notes
- Peyton Bennett (Harrisburg, S.D./Harrisburg) ignited the offense with a leadoff triple in the first inning and came around to score on an RBI single from Ellie Macal (Winona, Minn./Cotter), giving UW-Superior an early 1-0 lead.
- Garley kept Westfield State in check early, allowing just one run through five innings while working efficiently.
- The Yellowjackets' offense was stifled, managing just five hits while striking out six times.
- Baylee O'Donnell (Mendota Hights, Minn./Richfield) led the UW-Superior offense, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
- UW-Superior's defense turned a key double play in the first inning to erase an early Westfield State baserunner.
- Swartz entered in the sixth with the game tied 1-1 but ran into trouble as Westfield State erupted for nine runs on six hits, a walk, and an error.
- The game unraveled in the sixth inning when Westfield State erupted for nine runs, including a three-run triple from Hannah Wodecki and a two-run homer by Kassidy LaTour.
- The Yellowjackets were held hitless over the final three innings as Westfield's pitching staff shut down the offense.
Game Two Notes
- The Yellowjackets' offense came alive, pounding out 13 runs on 10 hits while capitalizing on six Lesley errors.
- UW-Superior struck early with a three-run first inning, highlighted by a two-run single from O'Donnell.
- MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) launched a two-run inside the park homer in the seventh inning, capping a five-run outburst.
- O'Donnell led the charge at the plate, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs, including a double.
- Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) added an RBI double in the third, helping extend the lead.
- Garley dominated in the circle, earning the win with four innings of work, striking out seven while allowing just one additional run.
- The Yellowjackets were aggressive on the bases, racking up five stolen bases, including two from Morgan Young (Blaine, Minn./Blaine).
The Yellowjackets return to action Thursday, March 13, continuing play in Naples against SUNY Potsdam at 8 a.m. CDT and Alfred State at 10 a.m. CDT at North Collier Regional Park.
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