No. 3 Yellowjackets upset No. 1 Saints in UMAC softball postseason title game
DULUTH, Minn.---In the regular season, No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Superior was the only Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) squad to defeat conference powerhouse No. 1 College of St. Scholastica which set the stage for a thrilling softball conference tournament.
After the Yellowjackets took the first matchup with the Saints Friday, the Saints roared back Saturday to force a deciding game for the postseason title Sunday. With a big third inning and scoring the winning run in the seventh, No. 3 Wisconsin-Superior pulled off the upset with a 4-3 decision to capture its first UMAC softball playoff championship.
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The Yellowjackets earned the UMAC automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA tournament after ending the Saints' postseason title streak at two-straight Sunday and claimed the season series 3-2 over the Saints. The Yellowjackets improve to 27-13 overall, while the Saints' impressive season ends at 26-15.
Sunday's title game started off in favor of the Saints who plated two runs in the bottom of the first for the early lead after holding the Yellowjackets scoreless in the top half of the inning despite having bases loaded on one out. Micah McGuiness hit a solo home run for the Saints before Nikki Logergren drove in Maggie Schley on a double.
After a scoreless second inning, the Yellowjackets took their first lead of the game scoring three times in the top of the third. Katie Wilke singled to bring Kari Shipman across for the first run. Then, Shelly Misco hit a double to send Brooke Dahlin home for the second run. Sasha Fjeran grounded out to drive in Wilke to put the Yellowjackets ahead 3-2.
Three more scoreless innings ensued to make it look as if the Yellowjackets could walk away victorious. However, the high-powered Saints offense got going in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. Alexa Bremer singled to right center to bring Rendi Johnson home for the tying run.
In order to avoid extra innings and put the pressure on the Saints, the Yellowjackets got the go-ahead run from Shipman on a RBI single from Katie White. The Yellowjackets got a big hold in the bottom of the seventh forcing the Saints to go three-up three-down to close out the win.
Shipman led the Yellowjackets at the plate going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Misco was 2-for-3 with a RBI. White, Wilke and Macy Hanson each recorded a hit to add to the Yellowjackets' eight total. On the mound, Sarah Hendrickson earned her 20th win of the season allowing just five hits in six innings and no earned runs to lift her team to the title.
For the Saints, Bremer was the lone player to record two hits on the day, while McGuiness and Logergren also had a hit and RBI to add to the Saints' offense. On the mound, junior pitcher Chrisi Mizera suffered the loss pitching seven innings allowing eight hits and just two earned runs.
The Yellowjackets will await their NCAA postseason fate as the Division III selection show is set for Monday at 12 p.m.