WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Sunday morning the Yellowjacket baseball team began action inside the Sunshine State, taking on Beloit College in a twin bill. Beginning in 2023 the 'Jackets and Buccaneers faced off for the first time in history, and each time they've put on some tight games at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
Sunday's doubleheader added to the history, as a pitcher's duel ensued early in the first game. After Beloit struck first in the opening frame before the 'Jackets answered in the bottom half. Both starting hurlers kept the opposing hitters at bay until Superior garnered an RBI single to lead 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, proving to be the game-winning hit.
 
Game two of the twin bill saw the Yellowjackets erupt offensively, utilizing a four-run second to take the lead. The Buccaneers scored four runs in the fifth and two more in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the damage had already been done, leading to a doubleheader sweep to open action in Florida.
 
Game One Notes

• Beloit logged back-to-back opposite-field hits to begin the game, leading to an RBI single for an early 1-0 lead.
• The 'Jackets saw Noah Dagostino (Andover, Minn./Andover) club a double into left field before advancing to third on a missed pickoff attempt during the next at bat. From there, Cole Ondrus (Esko, Minn./Esko) singled through the right side to even the scoring.
• Zach Romans (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael) and Buccaneers' Ben Schweit shut down the opposing hitters during the middle innings. Despite a pair of errors in the middle innings, Romans kept Beloit off the scoreboard leading to the late innings as he gave way to Adam Jensen (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd) in the top of the sixth.
• Dagostino drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, stealing second in the next at bat. Devin Frydenlund (Belleville, Wis./Belleville) drove him in with a single to right center, leading 2-1.
• Jensen shut the door after drawing a pair of infield groundouts and a strikeout, leading to Superior's third win in a row.
• Both teams only garnered three hits apiece in the contest.
• Romans allowed just three hits and one run, striking out three in the process.

 
Game Two Notes

• Tanner Voight (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) began the top of the second inning with a single before Trey Sybrant (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael-Albertville) followed. Brian O'Dwyer (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) followed with an RBI double before Wylee Arro (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) drove in O'Dwyer and Sybrant with a two RBI single.
• Dagostino sent in the fourth run after a groundout to the third baseman, giving Superior a 4-0 lead.
• After Sybrant got plunked by a pitch in the top of the third inning, O'Dwyer singled to score Frydenlund, who singled to start the frame.
• Two more runs came in the top of the fourth, beginning with an RBI double from Dagostino and a single from Ondrus gave the 'Jackets a 7-0 lead.
• Beloit made a pitching change in the top of the fifth, and Sybrant rudely welcomed him to the game with his first collegiate homer to left center field.
• Four runs came from the Buccaneers' fifth inning, as Yellowjacket starter Ben Welle (Melrose, Minn./Melrose) gave way to Declan Higgins (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle).
• O'Dwyer's at bat in the top of the seventh inning led to an inside-the-park home run, adding a well-needed insurance run to lead 9-4.
• Ethan Coady (Toronto, Ontario/Etobicoke School of the Arts) came in the game for the final frame, but the Buccaneers rallied to plate two runs with two outs in the seventh. Josh Pritchard (Surrey, British Columbia/Clayton Heights Secondary) entered and drew a flyout to center, shutting the door and pacing the 'Jackets to a 9-6 win.
• O'Dwyer paced Superior, going 3-4 with four RBIs on the day.
• Welle garnered his second win of the campaign, going 4.1 innings and striking out five.

 
The Yellowjackets are back in action Monday, taking on Saint Joseph's out of Maine. The doubleheader begins at 3:15 p.m. CT in Winter Haven, Fla.
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