ST. PAUL, Minn. - After a marathon of a Saturday doubleheader that resulted in a split between the University of Northwestern and University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets, the two UMAC foes returned to Reynolds Field Sunday afternoon for a rubber match to determine the winner of the three-game series. The Yellowjackets scored in the first inning for the third time this series and never looked back, cruising to a 13-5 win to take the series.
An RBI double by the third batter of the game gave UW-Superior a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, a four-spot in the third extended its lead to 5-0, and another RBI double in the top of the fourth made it 6-0. UNW got runners on base in each of the first two innings, but did not record a hit until the bottom of the fourth when
Kason Pietruszewski (Warroad, Minn./Warroad) lined a single to center field. UWS added another five runs in the fifth inning to make the margin double digits at 11-0, and some began to wonder if the run rule might come into play despite tight contests in both Saturday games.
To the Eagles' credit, they did not go down without a fight and were able to fend off the run rule for the rest of the game.
Tony Greco (Janesville, Wis./Janesville Craig) and
Ben Hixon (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) hit back-to-back singles to begin the bottom of the sixth inning, and another Pietruszewski single ended up scoring a run when the Superior center fielder committed a throwing error. Hixon scored on an
Alex Klein (Olathe, Kans./Olathe Northwest) groundout, and Pietruszewski and
Bryce Campbell (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) both came home on a
Jeremiah Holmes (West Covina, Calif./San Dimas) single, with some help from a fielding error by the Jackets' left fielder. Holmes came around to score himself after consecutive singles from
Davis Winter (Wausau, Wis./Wausau East) and
Jack Burns (Plainfield, Ill./Aurora Christian), trimming the deficit to 11-5 with plenty of ballgame left.
Unfortunately, Northwestern went hitless in the seventh and eighth innings, while UW-Superior scored two more insurance runs to make the score 13-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth. UNW showed signs of life, beginning the frame with Winter reaching base with a hit-by-pitch and Burns singling to left, but a double play and a pop-up ended the game and dropped the Eagles' conference record to 4-2. The Yellowjackets improved to 2-1 in UMAC play and 11-8 overall in 2026.
Northwestern's freshman quartet of Winter, Pietruszewski, Burns and Holmes each recorded two singles, with the latter two adding one RBI apiece. Klein produced the Eagles' other RBI.
Christian Raya (Moline, Ill./Moline) was credited with the loss on the mound after giving up five earned runs in 3.1 innings.
Izeyah Rojas (Covina, Calif./Walnut) pitched effectively in relief, going 3.2 innings and giving up just two earned runs.
UNW will play its first true road game of the season on Tuesday, March 31st at UW-River Falls. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
