Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The University of Minnesota Duluth took a split in day three of the University Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic as reigning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year Jen Banford tallied her 250th win as Bulldog head coach on Sunday.

Banford, who has a 250-156 record (.616 winning percentage) at UMD, received that accolade when her club claimed supremacy as the top bulldog upending Southwestern Oklahoma State University 5-1. The Bulldogs remained locked at the .500-mark for the third consecutive day to start the 2014 campaign after being tripped up by the defending national champions and National Fastpitch Coaches' Association No. 1 team, Central Oklahoma University.

Sophomore infielder Sami Schnyder sparked the Bulldogs, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate including two RBI singles. Freshman outfielder Heather Woyak belted her first career home run to put UMD ahead by one in the second. Coupled with Schnyder's RBIs in the second and fourth, the Bulldogs found a pair of insurance runs in the latter innings from senior infielder Brooke Neuroth and junior infielder Jordan Rice.

Sophomore pitcher Cayli Sadler went the distance, collecting her second win of the year. Sadler scattered six hits of one-run ball and struck out five Bulldogs.

"I'm pleased with our performance," said Banford. "Sadler pitched a fantastic game versus Southwestern Oklahoma and the team supporter her defensively and at the plate. Schnyder was clutch at the plate and a leader for us in the lead off position."

In game two, Central Oklahoma vaulted out to a 5-2 lead thanks to four UMD errors.  The Bulldogs, however, sliced the Bronchos lead to one in the second on RBIs by sophomore infielder Abbey Nelson and freshman infielder Mel Jarvi. Nelson, the Ham Lake, Minn. native, was the only UMD batter to accumulate two hits.

Freshman pitcher Sam Hartmann, who faced 27 batters in five innings of work, was outdueled by her counterpart Kalynn Schrock. Schrock was consistent in the circle allowing six hits while striking out seven. Freshman pitcher/outfielder Mariah Schultz went two innings of scoreless relief in her first action on the rubber this year.

"We had our opportunities to upset the number one team in the country and couldn't capitalize in key spots. We played a solid game and we know that we can compete with the best teams in the nation including the defending champions."

The Bulldogs wrap up the UAM 8-State Classic as they face the host of the tournament, Arkansas-Monticello, in a double header tomorrow. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.