SUPERIOR, Wis.- Typically, softball series between Upper Midwest Athletic Conference opponents take place over a weekend with one game on Friday and two games on Saturday. That was the original schedule for the University of Northwestern Softball team's three game set with Wisconsin-Superior. Due to inclement weather on the north shore this weekend, the series between the Eagles and the Yellowjackets was started this past weekend and finished on Tuesday afternoon.
The two UMAC playoff teams played two games on Saturday at UW-Superior and split the opening two games of the series. On Tuesday, Superior used a late inning rally to come from behind and defeat the Eagles 4-3. The Yellowjackets took two of the three games against the Eagles; with both teams having qualified for the UMAC Postseason Tournament, it is likely that they will see each other again in the postseason.
The first three innings of the contest were dominated by the starting pitchers and the game was locked in a scoreless tie entering the fourth.
Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian), the reigning UMAC Pitcher of the Week, got the Eagles off to a great start in the circle. She pitched a 1-2-3 first inning, before working around a pair of singles in a scoreless bottom of the second, and set the Jackets down in order once again in the third. Unfortunately for the Eagles, their offense went nine up and nine down to start the game and was not able to build an early lead off of the strong pitching of Strubbe.
The lead that the Eagles were looking for, and had eluded them through the first three frames, popped up in the top of the fourth. After the Eagles' lineup didn't produce a baserunner the first time through the order, their first batter in the second trip through the order delivered UNW's first hit of the game.
Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian), the Eagles' leadoff hitter, ripped a double to right centerfield to put an Eagle on base for the first time in the game.
Kate Beer (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) sacrifice bunted her over to third base.
Megan Lundt (Frisco, Texas/Lone Star) hit an infield single but Lane was not able to score on the play.
Reganne Henning (Beatrice, Neb./Beatrice) pinch ran for Lundt and stole second base.
Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo), the team's leader in RBIs, started the scoring with a sac fly to left field that scored Lane. UNW had a slim, 1-0 lead.
The Eagles' lead only lasted one Superior batter. The Yellowjackets immediately tied the game with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Strubbe recovered by setting down the next three batters in a row. The game was tied 1-1 entering the fifth.
A pair of Emma's ignited UNW's rally in the top of the fifth inning.
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) started the inning with a single and
Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony) pinch ran for her and swiped second base.
Riley Summers (Fontana, Wis./Big Foot) grounded out but Morrissey advanced to third base on the play.
Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) drove her in with the Eagles' second sac fly of the game to put the Eagles back in front. With two outs and the bases empty, the Eagles started from scratch.
Briar Armatoski (Amherst, Wis./Pacelli Catholic) singled and moved to third base when
Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) hit another double.
Kate Beer (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) hit an infield single to score Armatoski before the side was retired. The Eagles had taken the lead back, 3-1.
The Yellowjackets were able to score in the fifth and sixth frames to pull off the come from behind victory. They used an RBI single to score a run in the fifth. In the home half of the sixth, they got another RBI single (this time down the left field line) to tie the game. The next batter hit an RBI double for what would end up as the game winning run. In the top of the seventh, Northwestern got the tying run to second base but were unable to score. Superior held on for the 4-3 win.
This doesn't seem possible, but we are in the final week of the 2024 Northwestern Softball season (time flies when you're having fun). The Eagles will close out their 2024 season with a three game series against Crown College at Reynolds Field this weekend. The series starts at 4:00 PM on Friday, May 3
rd. The Eagles will be celebrating senior day at their Saturday (May 4
th) doubleheader against the Polars.
