Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 After a week-long road trip, which has extended nearly 2,500 miles through six different states, the University of Minnesota Duluth found a way to scratch out a win and split with Arkansas Tech Thursday afternoon in Russellville, Ark. in their final non-conference tune up before the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener. The Bulldogs, who hit a season-low .173 on the day, took game one 4-2 before the bats fell completely silent in the 5-1 rematch loss.

Sophomore pitcher Cayli Sadler took the mound in the 4-2 victory tossing her 10th complete game of the season. Sadler (10-6) split up six hits on two runs through seven innings and didn't walk a batter in 28 plate appearances. The Brooklyn Park native came into the second game and finished out the game after ATU chased freshman starter Sam Hartmann out of the circle after four batters. Hartmann got one out while surrendering a bunt single, a home run, and a walk.

UMD, who is 12-2 when scoring first, gained the early advantage when sophomore catcher Ashley Lewis doubled to score sophomore infielder Sami Schnyder, who led off the game with a walk. Schnyder would help the Bulldogs regain that one-run advantage the following inning with a triple to the right field corner to plate sophomore Daylce Gustafson. The Golden Suns (11-13) tied the game at two before UMD finally broke free in the seventh. Sophomore infielder Jordan Rice looped a RBI double to left field and scored later when Sadler helped herself out at the plate by driving in Rice.

UMD (14-11) got only nine hits including a pair of singles, which both came off the bat of freshman outfielder Hailey Lundquist, in the loss. In game two, UMD scored its only in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk and left 10 runners on-base. Lewis, who extended her hitting streak to five games before being shutout in the final game, was the only other Bulldog to rack up two hits during the double header.

The Bulldogs, who finished the four-day road trip 3-5, head back home in preparation of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener Tuesday, March 29 versus intrastate rival Winona State University. Opening pitch of league play is set to begin at 1 p.m.