NAPLES, Fla. – The UW-Superior softball team continued its strong start to the season with two victories Saturday, defeating Elms and Saint Joseph's (Conn.) at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
The Yellowjackets, now 6-2 on the season overall, opened the day with a solid 8-1 win over Elms before exploding offensively in the second game, routing Saint Joseph's 12-3.
Bella Garley (Albuquerque, N.M./Porter (Tex.)) and
Samantha Swartz (Antigo, Wis./Antigo) were dominant in the circle, combining for 12 innings of work and allowing just four runs on the day.
Game One Notes
- The Yellowjackets got on the board early against Elms, scoring twice in the first inning when Ellie Macal (Winona, Minn./Cotter) doubled home two runs.
- UW-Superior added two more in the third, with Peyton Bennett (Harrisburg, S.D./Harrisburg) tripling and scoring on a Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) RBI single.
- Elms got its only run in the fourth, but the Yellowjackets answered with a four-run fifth inning to put the game away.
- Garley earned the win, striking out eight in five innings while allowing just two hits. Garley is now 2-2-0 in the circle.
- Emma Pillion (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa Township) came into the circle to finish the last 2.0 innings, only giving up two hits.
- Macal finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs, and Bennett went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases.
Game Two Notes
- UW-Superior's offense erupted for 19 hits against Saint Joseph's, scoring in five of six innings.
- The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings and never looked back.
- Morgan Young (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) and Lily Hanson (Cloquet, Minn./Esko) each doubled in the second inning to extend the lead.
- Saint Joseph's cut the deficit to 5-3 in the third, but UW-Superior responded with a four-run fourth inning to break the game open.
- Macal, Bennett, and Young all had multi-hit games, while Hanson added two RBIs.
- Swartz remains unbeaten, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on nine hits. Swartz advances to 4-0 in the circle.
The Yellowjackets return to action Sunday, March 9, for day two of their spring break trip, taking on Rockford and SUNY Cobleskill. First pitch is set for 8 a.m. CDT, followed by game two at 10 a.m. CDT at the Lee County Sports Complex.
