The University of Minnesota Duluth will look to continue a seven-game winning streak as they play Northern State University in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference four-game series this weekend.
Sophomore third baseman
Jimmy Heck led the way with his bat on Tuesday as the Bulldogs (14-19, 10-13 NSIC) swept Upper Iowa in an NSIC doubleheader. Heck was 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a triple, two runs scored, and three RBIs against the Peacocks, and has hit .556 in six games over the past week with five doubles, seven RBIs, and five runs scored. Sophomore utility man
Ryan Lakin was the hero of game two, dropping in a single in the 11th inning to give UMD a walk-off win after entering as a defensive replacement earlier in the game. In game one, Lakin tossed the final inning of 4-0 shutout.
The Bulldogs pitching staff has put together a 2.67 ERA during its seven-game winning streak. Sophomore left-hander
Bo Hellquist allowed just one run over 11.0 innings, collecting a pair of wins while scattering six hits and striking out eight. Hellquist has lowered his ERA to 3.27 in eight starts, including four complete games. Freshman right-hander
Grant Farley was the victim of bad luck as three unearned runs knocked him from game two in the fourth inning, with fellow freshman
Colton Sinning sniping the win after getting the final out of the top of the 11th. Opponents have hit .235/.321/.316 against UMD during the streak, compared to .282/.365/.397 overall this season.
The Bulldogs have hit .308/.394/.446 and scored 7.43 runs per game over their past seven, compared to a .286/.365/.396 overall line and 4.97 run-scoring average. The recent surge has helped UMD match its overall win total from a season ago (14) with 10 games remaining on the schedule. The Bulldogs will need to continue their momentum as they remain on the outside looking in on the eight-team playoff field for the NSIC/U.S. Bank Postseason Tournament.
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| Projected Lineup |
| SS | Eric O'Bryan (Jr.) | .248 |
| 2B | Clayton Nutting (Jr.) | .309 |
| 3B | Matt Stubbs (Jr.) | .380 |
| 1B | Robbie Rocamora (Sr.) | .303 |
| CF | Alex Cornwell (Jr.) | .278 |
| DH | Maurice Rodriguez (Jr.) | .235 |
| RF | Trevor Sporrer (Sr.) | .341 |
| C | Buddy Traxler (Jr.) | .286 |
| LF | Nate Russell (Sr.) | .259 |
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Live StatsNorthern State (21-14, 14-10 NSIC) curently stands fifth in the league standings after sweeping a doubleheader with Winona State on Tuesday afternoon, rebounding from a four-game sweep at the hands of then-No. 8 Minnesota State University over the weekend. The Wolves showed an ability to win a tight game with a 1-0 victory in game one before the offense exploded for 11 runs in an 11-2 win over the Warriors in the nightcap.
As a squad, Northern sits tied with UMD, U-Mary, and Upper Iowa for fifth in the NSIC with a team .284 batting average. The Wolves are one of the top slugging teams in the NSIC at .404 on the season. Junior third baseman Matt Stubbs is getting on-base at the best clip in the league with a .384/.521/.593 batting line. He has 24 walks in 140 plate appearances but has 17 strikeouts. Stubbs is also tied with senior first baseman Robbie Rocamora for the team lead with four home runs. Rocamora's ten doubles also lead the team as he's slugged .545 on the season.
NSU has relied on four primary starters with a pair of righthanders, junior Cody Johns and sophomore Colton Boucher carrying much of the load. Boucher has tossed six complete games in eight starts, including a pair of shutouts, striking out 45 in 53.0 innings for a 3.74 ERA. Johns sits fifth in the league with a 2.34 ERA in a team-high 57.2 innings pitched and three complete games. Johns also has a 1.17 WHIP. Juniors Cody Eckstein, a lefty, and Cody Vandever, a righty, have taken the majority of the remaining starts but have combined for a 5.42 ERA in 74.2 innings.
Friday's games will take place at a neutral site in Redfield, S.D., beginning at 2:30 p.m. while Saturday's games will be at Northern State's home park in Aberdeen, S.D. beginning at 4:00 p.m.
