DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Yellowjacket baseball team continued its spring trip Friday, taking on the Panthers of Greenville University. The first time these two teams faced off against each other was in the 2022 season, and once more in the 2023 season. Both times the Panthers came away with the win, but it took 11 innings just two years ago for GU.
 
Friday saw another one of those one-run games, once again favoring Greenville, as they came away with a 2-1 win.
 
Game Notes

• Yellowjacket starter Ben Welle (Melrose, Minn./Melrose) shut out the Panthers for the first two innings. In the bottom of the third, a one-out walk led to an infield single before a sacrifice fly gave GU a 1-0 lead.
• In the top of the fourth, Payton Steiner (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) led off with a single to right center before Trey Sybrant (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael-Albertville) followed that up with a single through the left side. Another single to the left side came from Maxton Howell (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo), scoring Steiner to draw even.
• A leadoff homer for the Panthers came in the bottom half of the fifth inning.
• Christian Pretasky (Meadowlands, Minn./South Ridge) came in relief of Welle in the bottom of the sixth. He pitched the next 1.1 innings, walking two while striking out one.
• Superior threatened in the top of the seventh, beginning with a Tanner Voight (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) single to center. Noah Dagostino (Andover, Minn./Andover) was hit by a pitch, and during Brian O'Dwyer's (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) at bat, advanced into scoring position after a failed back-pick attempt. This wouldn't hinder the Panthers, however, as they garnered a strikeout to end the inning.
• The next best chance the 'Jackets had at scoring came off a two-out triple to right center by Howell, but he wouldn't advance any further after yet another Panther strikeout.
• Sybrant and Howell each went 2-4 on the day, with Howell receiving the lone RBI.
• Gio Basile (Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire North) toed the rubber for 1.2 innings of work, fanning two in the process.

 
The Yellowjackets will close their spring trip Saturday, taking on Plattsburgh State. The first pitch is set for 8:30 a.m. CT at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Fla.
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