MORRIS, Minn. – The Yellowjacket baseball team returned to action Friday, taking on Minnesota Morris in the first of a three-game Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) series while playing their first game of six in just five days. Both teams boasted similar records entering Friday's contest, while also entering a crucial series as the regular season dwindles down.
 
The Yellowjackets and Cougars were scoreless in the early innings before UMM struck first in the bottom of the fourth with a blast to left field. The 'Jackets responded for four runs in the top of the fifth inning before their lead was chopped to just one at 4-3, but Superior held on to win the opener.
 
Game Notes

• Yellowjacket hurler Josh Pritchard (Surrey, British Columbia/Clayton Heights Secondary) drew the start in the opening game of the series and fared well on his way to his third win of the 2025 campaign. He ended the day pitching 5.1 innings, allowing six hits on just two runs while fanning a season-high eight.
• After allowing a home run to left field in the fourth inning, the 'Jackets put up a four-spot in the top of the fifth inning. A leadoff double by Wylee Lottman (Kerkhoven, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) prompted a sacrifice bunt opportunity to Jonny Rhodes (Superior, Wis./Superior). After the Cougars allowed Superior to load the bases, a two RBI single off the bat of Tanner Voight (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) gave UWS the lead. Later Maxton Howell (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) singled to center scoring Voight and Payton Steiner (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo), who reached base via a walk.
• Kevin Rahe (Princeton, Minn./Princeton) relieved Pritchard on the mound midway through the sixth inning. After surrendering a leadoff double, he settled in and got out of the jam allowing just one run.
• A two-out hit by pitch came back to sting the 'Jackets, as a single to right field by Ashton Pauly sent Tyler Moriarty into scoring position. A throwing error from the Yellowjacket defense plated the Cougars' third run of the contest.
• UWS looked to add a cushion to their one-run lead, but solid pitching and defense late in the game boosted the 'Jackets to its fourth win in a row.
• Lottman led the offense, going 3-4 at the plate with a run scored. Voight and Howell each logged a pair of RBIs.
• Rahe picked up his first save as a Yellowjacket, pitching the remaining 3.2 innings and allowing just two hits.

Both teams return to Chizek Field Saturday to wrap up the three-game set. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. in Morris, Minn.
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