The University of Minnesota Duluth picked up a pair of victories in its final Florida outing, sweeping a doubleheader against St. Michael's (Vt.) College at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven.

UMD escapes the southeast with a 5-3 record before beginning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend. St. Michael's (1-6) scored the first four runs of the day, but UMD scored in the fourth, fifth, and sixth inning to force extras, with junior third baseman Kyle Comer crossing the plate for the go-ahead score in the eighth to give UMD a 5-4 win. The Bulldogs again fell behind early in game two, but unloaded with a 13-6 drubbing in the nightcap.

COVERING THE BASES
• Freshman lefthander Marcus Frederickson tossed five complete, giving up four runs early but rebounding to finish with six strikeouts to just one walk. Senior right-handed reliever Wes Mleziva came on in relief to toss the game's final three innings, striking out four.
• Comer lifted a pair of triples to right center in game one, scoring the game-tying and go-ahead runs while driving in one. Sophomore right fielder Matt Vogt added a pair of hits, crossed the plate once, and drove in one in his lone game of the day. Junior second baseman Jimmy Heck finished with a 4-for-4 game two, driving in three runs and scored a pair to lead the UMD charge in game two. Junior right-hander Matt Mattiacci made his return to the bump with a scoreless, hitless inning to relieve freshman lefty Tommy Hanson in the second game, while a pair of freshmen hurlers came in to close out the final two innings.

The Bulldog pitching staff bent but did not break in game one as Frederickson gave up early runs but finished with six of UMD's 10 striketouts in the day. After tying the game in the top of the sixth inning, the Bulldogs turned to their relief corps, getting three shutout innings from Mleziva, who picked up his first win of the season to go with a pair of saves so far in Florida. UMD fell behind early in game two but had a quick answer for St. Michael's, scoring at least a tally in every inning after the first. The Bulldogs swiped four bases in game two, reaking havoc on the base path to force three errors by the Purple Knights.

UP NEXT
UMD opens up NSIC play on the road this weekend with a four-game set against the University of Sioux Falls. Opening pitch is set for Noon on both Saturday and Sunday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.