St. Paul, Minn. –– The University of Northwestern Eagles (8-5, 3-1 UMAC) split with the UW-Superior Yellow Jackets (5-13, 1-2 UMAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles won game one 3-0 before the Yellow Jackets used a late rally to win game two 6-4.

Game One

The Eagles jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to Keegan Vercoe's (Queen Creek, Ariz./Poston Butte) third home run of the series. He hit a line drive that carried over the right-center field fence that was all of the run support that Owen Boerema (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) needed on the mound.

Trey Boushee (Fosston, Minn./Fosston) singled back to the pitcher in the bottom of the second and then promptly stole second. He advanced to third on a wild pitch before he scored when Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) hit a cue shot down the third-base line that stayed fair.

Superior got its first hit of the game in the top of the third, but he was erased when Cramer Hamilton (Apple Valley, Calif./Excelsior) picked him off second base. The Yellow Jackets stranded their first base runners of the game in the top of the eighth. They had runners on first and second with one out before Boerema recorded a strikeout and got a fielder's choice groundout. 

Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) provided an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a high drive to left that carried over the fence to make it 3-0. The Yellow Jackets put two runners on in the top of the ninth, but Boerema recorded a strikeout to end the contest. 

Boerema pitched a complete game shutout and struck out twelve while only allowing five hits. Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) and Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) had two hits apiece, while Vercoe and Peterson both hit their third home run of the early conference season in the contest.

Game Two

Northwestern jumped out to an early lead again in game two. Vercoe drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) singled through the left side to put runners on the corners before a wild pitch advanced both runners. 

The Eagles added two more runs in the bottom of the second after Isaac Pilon (Robbinsdale, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) reached on an error. Owen Boerema (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) then hit a grounder to the shortstop, but the throw pulled the second baseman off the bag as Pilon slid in. Ben Spores (Arlington, Wash./Arlington) advanced the two runners on a sacrifice bunt before Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) hit a single down the right-field line that brought home two.

The Yellow Jackets had runners on the corner with two outs in the top of the fourth before Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) got an infield pop up to get out of the jam. Northwestern added a run in the bottom of the fifth as Crabb helped himself with an infield single. He stole second before Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) drew a one-out walk, and Crabb moved to third on a wild pitch on ball four. CJ Toutant (Hortonville, Wis./Christian Liberty) followed with a single to right that brought home Crabb.

Superior jumped on the board for the first time on the day with a four-run seventh on a two-out double and scored the tying run on a throwing error. Northwestern looked to retake the lead as Peterson drew a one-out walk and stole second. Payton Christenson (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls) reached on an infield single and stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but the Yellow Jackets escaped the jam.

The Yellow Jackets took the lead as they had back-to-back singles, and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Both runners scored on an RBI single to make it 6-4 Superior. Northwestern loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but a strikeout and groundout ended the game.

The Eagles had nine hits, but Ben Spores (Arlington, Wash./Arlington) was the only Eagle with two hits. Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) pitched a complete game and gave up five earned runs and struck out four.

Up Next

Northwestern travels down Snelling to take on Bethel University on Wednesday, April 6th. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:30 pm.