ST. PAUL, Minn.- Fans who have followed UMAC softball in recent years know that anytime the University of Northwestern and University of Wisconsin-Superior softball teams get together, it usually ends up as an instant classic. UNW hosted UWS in a doubleheader at Reynolds Field on Wednesday night and the two teams did not disappoint once again. The visiting Yellowjackets won game one comfortably 8-2, but game two was a back and forth pitchers' duel with the Eagles winning 2-1 thanks to a walk off single by
Megan Lundt (Frisco, Texas/Central Methodist) in extra innings.
Game One
The Yellowjackets' offense was on cruise control in the early innings, putting runs on the board in each of the first four innings of play. Superior got runners on base and found ways to move them from station to station until they finally scored. In the first inning, the Yellowjackets used a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt to score runs.
Superior would add a run in each the second and third innings. In the second inning it was an RBI double to centerfield and in the third inning it was an RBI single to right field to give UWS a 4-0 lead.
The Eagles would answer back in the bottom of the third inning. Facing a four run deficit,
Grace Bentley (Omaha, Neb./Wheaton College) got on base to start the inning by getting hit by the pitch.
Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) would advance Bentley to second base with a sacrifice bunt.
Allison Terry (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) would then hit a ground ball to third base, as the throw was made to retire Terry at first base, Bentley broke for third. The Superior throw to try and cut down Bentley at third was errant, which allowed her to score the Eagles' first run of the contest.
Now trailing 5-1, thanks to another Superior run in the fourth inning, UNW's offense would push another run across in the fifth inning. Once again, it was Bentley scoring for the Eagles. Gabrille Keith laced a double to left centerfield that drove in Bentley and the Eagles trailed 5-2.
With the Eagles inching closer, Superior would deliver the final blow in the sixth inning. In the top half of the frame, the Jackets used a couple of RBI singles to push across three runs and win the game 8-2.
The Eagles' ran into a very good pitching performance from their opponent as they were only able to scrape together two hits in the contest.
Game Two
With the season series now even at one game apiece (UNW had defeated Superior 12-8 earlier in the season) the two teams were set to close out the doubleheader with the regular season rubber match. After the first two games between the teams had produced a lot of runs, getting runners across the plate was a tough task in the finale on Wednesday night.
UNW started the scoring early as they got a lead in the bottom half of the first inning.
Mikayla Gee (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) hit a leadoff single and then stole second base.
Megan Lundt (Frisco, Texas/Central Methodist) would hit a single to advance her to third base before
Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo) drove her in with a fielder's choice ground ball.
UNW's 1-0 lead would hold all the way until the top half of the sixth.
Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) was phenomenal in the circle holding the Yellowjackets scoreless through five innings. In the sixth, Superior got a leadoff single and moved up her up to second base with a bunt. Then a two out single would tie the game.
The game was locked in a 1-1 tie all the way until the seventh inning. Both teams would go down 1-2-3 and the fans at Reynolds Field were treated to extra softball.
In the eighth inning, Strubbe pulled a high wire act to escape from trouble and keep the game tied. The Jackets had struggled to get much going against the freshman pitcher all night, but in the eighth inning they put together a threat with a leadoff walk followed by a single. A bunt would move both runners up. Strubbe now found herself in the eighth inning of a tie game with runners on second and third and only one out. She would stay cool, calm, and collected as she recorded the two biggest outs of her young career. Strubbe picked up a strikeout and then induced a pop up to Gee at second base and the game went to the bottom of the eighth still tied.
In the bottom of the eighth, it was Gee once again who got things started for the Eagles with a one out single.
Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) moved Gee up to second base with a single of her own. That brought up
Megan Lundt (Frisco, Texas/Central Methodist) who would end up as the hero on Wednesday night. She drilled a ball into right field that allowed Gee to race around third and score the winning run. The Eagles won the thriller in dramatic, walk-off fashion, 2-1.
Strubbe pitched all eight innings only giving up one run and striking out five batters.
Up Next
The Eagles will now shift their focus to this weekend's UMAC Crossover tournament. UNW is scheduled to begin play on Friday, April 28
th against North Central.
