Notables
-Hadlich and Howe each had multiple hits for CSS
-UWS has won the last three games decided in extra innings vs. CSS
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica softball team led for much of its Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament opener against Bridge Rival University of Wisconsin-Superior on Thursday until the Yellowjackets plated three on one swing of the bat in the sixth inning and then ultimately won the contest in the eighth inning by a final of 5-4.
How it Happened
The Saints got off to a great start with a pair of runs in the first inning.
Olivia Howe (Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake HS) tripled to score
Nicole Anders (Port Angeles, Wash./Sequim HS) and Howe later scored on a
Grace Hadlich (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) RBI single.
The Yellowjackets (19-13) capitalized on a CSS error in the third inning to plate a run and make it 2-1. St. Scholastica got that run back in the fifth inning on a
Kari Breuer (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) RBI single to bring in
Mady Peterson (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) and make it 3-1.
Superior opened the sixth inning with three straight singles to load the bases. UWS proceeded to single again, but the ball got passed the CSS outfielder to clear the bases and give the Yellowjackets their first lead at 4-3.
The Saints answered in the bottom frame on a
Heidi Stewart (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS (Saint Mary's)) RBI single to score
Avery Thompson (Austin, Minn./Austin HS) and tie the game at 4-4. Unfortunately, CSS stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the inning. The Saints then put runners at first and second with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but came away with nothing as the contest went to extra innings.
UWS would get a two-out RBI double to break the tie and make it 5-4 in the top of the eighth. The Saints got the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth, but could not bring her home as the Yellowjackets prevailed 5-4.
Underdogs Rule Day One of the Tournament
The lower-seeded teams won three of the four games on Thursday. The No. 5 seed UW-Superior defeated the No. 4 seed Northland College to open the tournament by a 7-2 final. Then it was the No. 3 seed University of Northwestern (Minn.) defeating the No. 2 seed Bethany Lutheran College 5-2 in game two. After the top-seeded Saints fell to the Yellowjackets, Bethany eliminated Northland with an 8-0 victory in five innings to finish the first day of action.
Up Next:
The Saints (32-7) will face the No. 2 seed Bethany Lutheran College in an elimination game tomorrow (Friday) at 2 p.m. at Kenwood Field.
