The Yellowjackets started their spring break trip in Tucson, Ariz., earning a split in the afternoon doubleheader against Macalester College of St. Paul, Minn. on March 16. The Yellowjackets were able to mount a rally in the first game, them victorious for the second time this season.
Game 1
Yellowjackets 9, Macalester 4
Box Score
Macalester started the scoring after leadoff hitter Ross Bronfenbrenner opened the game drawing a walk on four straight pitches from Yellowjacket starting pitcher Travis Elwood (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka). Broenfenbrenner would come around to score on an error, giving the Scots the early lead.
In the third, the Scots extended their lead thanks again to a walk, followed by a stolen base and RBI single by Tom Forster.
The Yellowjackets would get on the board in the bottom of the third after Robbie Veith (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd) opened the inning with a triple and TJ Evanson (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) hit a line drive RBI single to center field to bring him home.
However, as soon as the Yellowjackets got on the board, the Scots bounced back, scoring a run in the top of the fourth inning. The scoring again was a result of a walk surrendered by Elwood, this time to Scots hitter Nick Sia. Following back-to-back singles, Sia would score, bringing Macalester's lead back to two runs.
The Yellowjackets would respond immediately in the bottom of the fourth in part to another triple, this time by shortstop Tony Remund (Andover, Minn./Coon Rapids). Remund would come around to score from a RBI single by Casey Dittel (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) bringing Macalester's lead down to one at 3-2.
The scoring continued for the Yellowjackets in the fifth inning as they tacked on three more runs to take their first lead of the game. Evanson led off the inning by reaching on an error. Back-to-back singles from Jeff Miller (Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn) and Michael Doescher (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West) would load the bases. After the Scots recorded an out, Remund would reach on an error bringing Miller and Doescher around to score. The Yellowjackets would add one more run on another RBI single from Dittel.
Yellowjacket relievers Seth Wage (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West) and Cody Johnson (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) would hold off the Scots, who mounted rally in the top of the sixth and the Yellowjackets would never look back, scoring four more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Miller, Doescher, Sam Holden (Spooner, Wis./Spooner), and Remund all collected RBIs in the inning.
Yellowjacket pitcher Seth Wage earned his first collegiate win, pitching in relief of Elwood. Johnson pitched the final two innings to help secure the victory.
The Yellowjackets collected 13 hits during the game, including three from Veith and two each from Dittel, Remund and Holden.
Game 2
Macalester 12, Yellowjackets 2
Box Score
The second game of the doubleheader saw the Yellowjacket's bats fall silent and the pitching become inconsistent.
Starting pitcher Graham Miller (Cumberland, Wis./Cumberland) struggled to find his command in the first inning giving up two straight walks after striking out the lead off hitter. Both walks would come around to score following a Yellowjacket error and a sacrifice fly by Macalester's Forster.
Miller's struggles continued in the second inning, and after hitting the first two hitters, Miller was replaced by Christian Hall (Siren, Wis./Siren). Hall found his own struggles and recorded an error on his first play in the game, a sacrifice bunt from Scots' Jonathan Melms. The Scots would end the inning by scoring three runs on just one hit in the frame.
The bottom of the third proved to be another good inning for Macalester as they recorded three more runs while only collecting 2 hits, including a two-run RBI double from Sia. The Scots would tack on another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 10-0 game.
The Yellowjackets finally got on the board in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs. After a walk to Tyler Duex (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls) and a single from Evanson, pinch hitter Jordan Koepp smacked a double to right field, scoring both runners to make it 10-2.
Macalester would score single runs in each of the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings, bringing their lead back up to 10 runs.
The Yellowjackets would fall easily in the seventh inning, securing the win for the Scots.
Evanson lead the offense for the Jackets collecting three of the Yellowjackets' six hits. Miller received the loss after surrendering three earned runs in one inning of work. Hall and Riley Grandson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) pitched in relief.
The Yellowjackets return to action Sunday, March 17 against Wesleyan University, from Middletown, Conn. at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. Freshman pitcher Aaron Martin (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) will get the start on the mound.