The University of Minnesota Duluth brings a five-game winning streak into its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader Tuesday at Upper Iowa University.
The past week showed how the season was supposed to work out for the Bulldogs (12-19, 8-13 NSIC) as the offense took control, batting a combined .295/.368/.433 and scoring nearly eight runs per game (46 in six games).
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Leading the way for UMD was junior catcher
Beau Goff, who batted .550 (11-of-20) and got on-base at .591 clip, adding a pair of walks. Goff started five of six games, behind the plate for four of those starts and off the bench as a pinch hitter in the last. The Monona, Wis. native crossed the plate six times during UMD's four-game sweep of Sioux Falls over the weekend and added a pair of runs batted in against the Cougars. For the week, he had three RBIs and six runs scored. Additionally, he picked off a runner and caught three stealing on 11 attempts while guiding Bulldog pitchers to a 4.33 ERA in 52 innings.
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Sophomore lefty
Bo Hellquist led the way for the UMD mound staff with another strong start, striking out five in six innings against Sioux Falls. The 13-1 thumping of the Cougars would be the only "easy" game of the weekend for the Bulldogs, as they came back from down 7-5 to win game two for senior right-hander
Max Ryan, posted a six-run inning for senior reliever
Chris Couillard in game three, and needed a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to walk off game four and give freshman
Grant Farley his first victory of 2014 out of the 'pen. The craziness began earlier in the week, as UMD needed 14 innings to earn a series split in game two against U-Mary.
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| Projected Lineup |
| CF | Tyler Adams (Sr.) | .456 |
| LF | Cody Booker (So.) | .244 |
| RF | Alex George (Fr.) | .383 |
| DH | Jose Aquirre (Sr.) | .403 |
| 1B | John Dobson (Sr.) | .247 |
| SS | Mitch Moser (Fr.) | .268 |
| C | Jacob Stenberg (So.) | .273 |
| 3B | Ryan Citro (Sr.) | .297 |
| 2B | Luis Ravelo (So.) | .313 |
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Live StatsUpper Iowa (10-17, 3-11 NSIC) split a doubleheader against No. 9 St. Cloud State University on Saturday, snapping a four-game winless streak in league play and will play St. Ambrose (Iowa) University on Monday before hosting the Bulldogs on Tuesday.
Senior centerfielder Tyler Adams leads the NSIC in batting average at .456 while slugging .641 with 12 extra-base hits on the season and a team-high 23 runs batted in and 24 runs scored. Senior designated hitter Jose Aguirre is not far behind at .403 on the year while leading the league in on-base percentage at .537. He's drawn 20 walks on the season compared to just 10 strikeouts. Like UMD, the Peacocks have gotten significant contributions from a pair of freshmen in rightfielder Alex George and shortstop Mitch Moser. George is third on the team with a .383 average while Moser brings a five-game hitting streak into the series.
While the Peacocks offense has been a strong point with a .292/.376/.373 combined line, the pitching staff has faltered, posting a 5.88 ERA and 1.73 WHIP through its first 200 innings. Eight pitchers have taken the mound to start a game for UIU with sophomore right-hander Dickson Paz leading the team with a 2-0 record and 1.69 ERA in his four starts. Defensive errors have prevented him from being even better as teams have plated seven unearned runs against him this season. The same can be said for freshman righty Brett Fanning, whose 3.63 ERA in four starts has led to just a 1-2 record as teams have scored 16 runs but just nine earned in his 22.1 innings. Junior Buster Mason and senior lefty Martin Valdez lead the way with six starts each but have combined for a 5.95 ERA.
Opening pitch of Tuesday's twinbill is set for Noon at Robertson Woods Field in Fayette, Iowa.
