SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Yellowjacket softball team played its first official home games Wednesday, playing host to Northwestern at the NBC Sports Complex. The Eagles came into the day undefeated in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action, and courtesy of Ireland Strubbe were able to win game one by a score of 4-1. In game two the bats came alive for Superior, as they set up a rubber match in game three with a 5-4 victory, effectively snapping Northwestern's undefeated streak in conference play.
 
Game One Notes

• Northwestern utilized a three-run fourth inning that featured three hits and a Yellowjacket miscue to take a lead in the middle innings. An RBI double off the bat of Emma Edwards brought in the fourth and final run for the Eagles.
• Superior was only able to squeak a pair of hits off Strubbe, and it came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Larissa Snyder (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) singled to leadoff the inning before advancing to third on an Eagles error.
• From there, Delaney Johnson (Ellsworth, Wis./Ellsworth) clubbed a single to right field to break the scoreless streak, but UNW collected the final out of the game as they emerged victorious 4-1.
• Abby Mitchell (Cloquet, Minn./Carlton) suffered the loss, with her record moving to 9-8.
• Georgia Youngblood (Ray, Mich./Lutheran North) came on in relief for the final two innings, allowing just one hit.

 
Game Two Notes

• A two-run third inning saw Superior strike first in the second-of-two games. A pair of singles from Kylie Zwak (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) and Sophia Otto (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) prompted an RBI single off the bat of Carly Stuckmayer (Delano, Minn./Delano). Later, Snyder singled and advanced to second while Peyton Bennett (Harrisburg, S.D./Harrisburg) came around to score.
• A single up the middle off the bat of Gabrielle Keith cut the Yellowjacket lead down to one, and a single through the left side tied things up at 2-2.
• Youngblood returned to pitch and allowed two more to score, leaving the top of the fourth with a two-run deficit.
• The 'Jackets responded with Otto clubbing a three-run shot to right field to regain the lead and ultimately claim a 5-4 win.
• Mitchell returned to the circle and pitched the final three innings in the circle, allowing just three hits and getting out of a crucial bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth inning.
• Youngblood picked up the victory for the Yellowjackets. Her record now stands at 1-1.
• The Superior quartet of Otto, Zwak, Snyder and Stuckmayer each had two hits on the day. Otto led with three RBIs.

 
The Yellowjackets and Eagles meet up for the rubber match on Thursday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at the NBC Sports Complex in Superior.
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