In its first North Central Conference home baseball assignments of the 2008 season, the University of Minnesota Duluth (16-15 overall; 2-8 NCC) traded wins with the University of North Dakota on Friday afternoon. Strong pitching and a late offensive flurry lifted the Bulldogs to an 8-2 victory in Game 1 before UND (10-13; 2-8) won 14-9 in the nightcap.

Senior co-captain Kyle Zweber struggled his last time on the mound – he gave up five runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings of work against the University of Nebraska-Omaha on April 13 – but was back to his usual superb form in the first game. The Lakeville, Minn., native pitched a complete, seven-inning game, allowing just two runs on three hits. The righty struck out five, registering his first complete game performance of the year, while moving his record to 4-1.

UND jumped out to a 2-0 lead after its first at- bats, using two hits to score the pair of runs. That was all the offense North Dakota would get off Zweber, with the Bulldog offense answering back with one run of their own in the bottom of the first (thanks to a solo home run by sophomore Bryan Denisen).

The score stayed at 2-1 until UMD exploded for seven runs in the home-half of the sixth inning, taking the lead and putting the game out of reach at the same time.

The Bulldogs were powered by a three-run jack from senior co-captain Andrew Heieie in the frame. The Apple Valley, Minn., native went 2-for-2, scoring a run and getting all three of his RBI off that swing of the bat. UMD used a little small-ball, as well as some miscues by the UND defense, to score four more runs in the inning.

Seven of the nine starters registered at least on hit, with the Bulldogs ending the first clash with a total of nine base knocks.

There was plenty of offense to be had for UND in the first five innings of Game 2, putting up 13 runs. UMD could only muster six scores during that time and could never mount a legitimate comeback during the final two innings of the nightcap.

Junior Cole Hytjan had a difficult outing, lasting just 1.2 innings in his first loss of the year (4-1). The righty from Eden Prairie, Minn., gave up six runs and walked four batters while surrendering five hits. The Bulldog bullpen had no more luck than Hytjan, with four other hurlers allowing the additional eight runners to cross the plate for North Dakota.

Heieie did his part offensively, swatting two more big flys to go with his Game 1 jack – he now has four home runs on the year. Junior third baseman David Olson also corked a round tripper in the game, his fourth of the season.

There may be a case of déjà vu in the future for both teams, as they will square off in Grand Forks, N.D., this Sunday (April 20). The NCC doubleheader will start at 1:00 p.m. at Kraft Field.