The University of Minnesota Duluth completed a successful road trip through North Dakota today splitting a two-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series with the University of Mary in Bismarck. UMD (21-17, 7-6 NSIC) won the first three games of the trek before falling in the final game this afternoon. 

In game one, the Bulldogs struck first with a pair of doubles by sophomore infielder Sami Schnyder and senior outfielder Megan Mullen. Sophomore catcher Ashley Lewis added a run when she scored after couple of Marauders fielding errors. The Marauders (26-18, 11-9 NSIC) responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning after a single by Amber Gamboa plated Allison Brown. Mary scored their next run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Demaree Rodriguez singled and advanced to third on a two-base throwing error, eventually scoring when Erin Keen pushed a single through the left side of the infield.

Squared at two a piece entering extra innings, Bulldog's sophomore pitcher Cayli Sadler broke the tie game with a two-run single to place UMD ahead 4-2. Sadler, who went the final two and two-third innings, finished off the bottom of the inning on the mound securing the 4-2 win for UMD. 

The second game started with a Marauders' run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Bulldog's responded quickly when freshman center fielder Hailey Lundquist homered to left center field. Mary took an 8-2 lead after scoring seven runs in the second and third innings. UMD started its comeback bid when they added three runs in the forth inning with a string of hits and Marauder fielding errors.

Sadler continued picking away at the deficit when she deposited a home run over the left field wall in the top of the fifth making the score 8-6. Mary was able to score an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning when their shortstop Francine Villalobos was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Mullen did her best to spark a seventh inning rally with a leadoff homerun, but the Marauders' held off the late push to force the split with a 9-7 decision. 

Bulldog freshman hurler Sam Hartman started both games on the mound, with Sadler following her in relief in the two-game split. The pair combined to hold Mary to only one earned run in the first game, striking out 13 before the tough Marauders' offense came to life in the rematch.

Next up for UMD is a trip to St. Cloud State University for a pair of NISC bouts on Tuesday before returning to James S. Malosky Stadium for their closing home games of the 2014 season for a conference matchup with Minnesota State University Moorhead on Wednesday.