High-scoring games headline day one of 2018 UMAC baseball tournament
DULUTH, Minn.---For the first time in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), five baseball teams participated in the postseason tournament beginning Thursday. The new format laid the foundation for three high-scoring performances from the winning teams to set up anticipated matchups on day two set for Friday.
No. 5 University of Wisconsin-Superior knocked out No. 4 Northland College 14-2 in seven innings to kick off Thursday before UMAC regular season co-champion No. 2 Bethany Lutheran College moved No. 3 University of Northwestern to the elimination game with a 10-4 game two. The other co-champion No. 1 College of St. Scholastica then handed No. 5 Wisconsin-Superior a 19-4 loss in seven to end the day.
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Tournament Site |
Game One |
Game Two |
Game Three |
Game 1 - No. 5 Wisconsin-Superior def. No. 4 Northland, 14-2 (7 inn.) |
Box Score |
The regular season series between No. 4 Northland and No. 5 Wisconsin-Superior took two meetings to complete after the second game was postponed in the 10th inning. Eventually, Northland defeated Wisconsin-Superior for a the series split making the win-or-go-home opener of the tournament even more intriguing.
However, the intrigue didn't last long as Wisconsin-Superior cranked out nine runs in the opening two innings to put the game out of reach for Northland before it ever really even got started in the first-ever 4 vs. 5 single-elimination game of the UMAC baseball tournament. The Yellowjackets compiled a 14-2 win to make their way into the double-elimination portion of the tournament.
In the first inning, the Yellowjackets wasted no time getting started when Braeden Barr homered to bring Cory Albertson home for the first two runs of the game. The next inning saw the Yellowjackets explode for seven runs which kicked off with a two-RBI single from Nick McNosky. He then came home on a RBI single from Albertson who then came across for his second run of the game on a single from Matt Boyde. Following an error, three more unearned runs came across on a double from Spencer Lawniczak.
In the third, Albertson added a run on a wild pitch and Lawniczak drove in another in the top of the fourth to make it 11-0. Finally, Northland got on the board in the bottom of the inning on a single from Anthony Corrado. The momentum didn't last long, though, as Albertson cranked a two-run home run to keep the 'Jackets rolling to an eventual 14-2 win.
Albertson was 3-for-3 with three RBI and four runs scored to lead the Yellowjackets offensively. Barr and Boyde each added three hits, while Barr pitched a complete seven-inning game allowing just one earned run on five hits and striking out four. Corrado led the LumberJacks with two hits.
Game 2 - No. 2 Bethany Lutheran def. No. 3 Northwestern, 10-4 |
Box Score |
No. 2 Bethany Lutheran and No. 3 Northwestern met to start the season for the co-champion Vikings, but after that UMAC-opening loss the Vikings went on to win 14 of their next 15 games to end the regular season tied atop the standings. Their success continued into the postseason as the Vikings earned a solid 10-4 win to open the tournament with a victory.
The first inning of the game provided plenty of excitement as both teams managed to plate runs. The Eagles led off with a RBI double from Aaron Krahn before Caleb Piersma came across for run number two of the inning on a RBI single from Carter Michaelson.
Down 2-0, the Vikings answered quickly in the bottom of the inning score three runs of their own. Ross Beumer scored the first on a hit from Grant Becher who got a run of his own on a wild pitch. Diego Martiarena then came across home for the final run of the opening inning on a single from Ben Boran.
Both teams got scoreless innings through the next three-and-half before Bethany Lutheran would extend its lead in the bottom of the fifth to 4-2 when Beumer scored on a sacrifice fly from Becher. The fifth run for the Vikings came in the sixth inning on a home run from Mylo Hommes.
The power hitting continued in the seventh when Nick Caldeen blasted a three-run shot to put the Vikings up 8-2. Northwestern would eventually add two more runs on RBI from Nathan Ehnstrom and Piersma, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome the deficit.
Five Vikings recorded two hits each to fuel a balanced offensive attack. Beumer highlighted the Vikings at the plate going 2-for-3 with three runs and a walk. Cody Leitener went eight innings on the mound for the win allowing just three runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Krahn led the hitting for the Eagles with two hits.
The Vikings will advance to the 3 p.m. game against No. 1 St. Scholastica, while No. 3 Northwestern will face No. 5 Wisconsin-Superior in the elimination game at 12 p.m.
Game 3 - No. 1 St. Scholastica def. No. 5 Wisconsin-Superior, 19-4 (7 inn.) |
Box Score |
For the second-straight season, Wisconsin-Superior would face No. 1 St. Scholastica in the nightcap to add to the bridge rivalry between the two squads. Just like the first meeting between the two teams this season, the game was a high-scoring affair for the Saints who advanced to the undefeated game Friday.
The Saints wasted no time getting going as they tallied eight runs in the bottom of the first. Joey Zwak brought Drew Colvard home on a RBI single in just the second at bat of the game. The next two batters were then walked before a third walk to Brad Fossum scored Zwak. On the very next at bat, Eric Pearson brought home Steven Neutzling and Aaron Weber on a single to make it 4-0 Saints.
Next up, Conor Wollenzein drove in Fossum on a single before Pearson came across home plate on an error. Colvard then scored Chris Olson on a RBI triple before stealing home to push the lead to 8-0 before the inning ended two batters later.
The Yellowjackets settled in for the next two innings and didn't allow the Saints any more runs until the bottom of the fourth when the lead extended to 12-0. Olson and Colvard accounted for three RBI in the inning. Wollenzein and Colvard each plated two more runs each to help the Saints tally five in the bottom of the fifth to make it 17-0.
Wisconsin-Superior found some life in the top of the sixth when it scored four runs. Greg Pitts started the 'Jackets off with a single before Alex Osness scored on a balk. A groundout from McNosky scored another run before Albertson hit his second home run of the day to put two more on the board. The Saints would score two more in the sixth to get to 19 on the day.
Colvard had a monster day at the plate going 5-for-6 with two runs scored and four RBI. Neutzling and Wollenzein each recorded three hits with Wollenzein going a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs. Jake Sande got the win on the mound allowing just four runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Albertson's home run highlighted the hitting for the Yellowjackets.
Friday will see No. face No. 3 Northwestern in an elimination game at 12 p.m. to open the day before tournament undefeated teams Mo. 1 St. Scholastica and No. 2 Bethany Lutheran will play at 3 p.m. with a spot in championship Saturday on the line. The elimination game will take place at 6 p.m.
Playoff Schedule
Thursday, May 10 (Day One)
Game 1 – No. 5 Wisconsin-Superior def. No. 4 Northland, 14-2 (7 inn.) |
Box Score |
NC Recap |
UWS Recap |
Game 2 – No. 2 Bethany Lutheran def. No. 3 Northwestern, 10-4 |
Box Score |
BLC Recap |
UNW Recap |
Game 3 – No. 1 St. Scholastica def. No. 5 Wisconsin-Superior, 19-4 (7 inn.) |
Box Score |
CSS Recap |
UWS Recap |
Friday, May 11 (Day Two)
Game 4 –
12 p.m. – No. 3 Northwestern vs. No. 5 Wisconsin-Superior |
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Game 5 –
3 p.m. – No. 1 St. Scholastica vs. No. 2 Bethany Lutheran |
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Game 6 –
6 p.m. – Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 5 |
Live Video |
Live Stats |
*NOTE - Game times adjusted due to forcast evening temperatures.
Saturday, May 12 (Day Three)
Game 7 – 1 p.m. – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 |
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Game 8 – 4 p.m. – If Necessary Game (if two teams remain with one loss) |
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Event Information
The UMAC tournament has the following set admissions prices: Single Day Adult Ticket, $10; Single Day Student/Senior Ticket - $5; Adult Tournament Pass, $15; Student/Senior Tournament Pass, $7. All UMAC students, staff and faculty are FREE with valid institution ID to all games. No other passes will be accepted.
All tournament information including scores, recaps, team information and more can be found on the
UMAC Baseball Tournament page. Keep up with all of the tournament action on
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2018 Tournament Page