ST. PAUL, Minn.- The University of Northwestern opened up the UMAC Postseason Tournament with Wisconsin-Superior on Thursday night. The #4 seeded Yellowjackets knocked off the #1 seeded Eagles, 11-5.
Wisconsin-Superior was ready to swing the bat immediately in the postseason tournament. The Yellowjackets hit a leadoff double on the first pitch of the game, but would strand a couple of runners in the first inning and would be held scoreless in the first. However, the Yellowjackets would start their offensive onslaught in the second inning. Three straight RBI singles would give the Yellowjackets a 3-0 lead after the second inning. The visitors would then string a handful of doubles together in the third and then hit a couple of homeruns in the fourth. When the dust settled, the Yellowjackets led 11-0.
After the fifth inning, with the score still 11-0, a lightning delay halted the game for an hour. Once the game resumed, the Eagles started building some positive momentum.
The Eagles were down to their last strike in the bottom of the seventh inning and in danger of seeing the game end early due to the ten run rule. With the count full,
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) hit a mammoth blast over the left field wall. It was one of the longest homeruns of the season, and it made the score 11-2. The game would be completed in nine innings.
In the ninth, the Eagle continued to fight back.
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) delivered with two strikes again and rocketed a double to left field to score two runs.
Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) would follow up with a single to score Peterson. The game would end 11-5.
Brandon Welch (Rogers, Minn./Rogers) was phenomenal out of the bullpen for the Eagles. Welch pitched five scoreless innings, only gave up three hits, and struck out two hitters.
The Yellowjackets will play Crown College at 4:00 P.M. today. The Eagles will play in an elimination game against Bethany Lutheran at 1:00 P.M. this afternoon.
