The University of Minnesota Duluth received its first 2015 tests against a nationally-ranked opponent Thursday morning and the Bulldogs passed with flying colors.

In its final day of competition in Clermont, Fla., UMD took both ends of a doubleheader with No. 22 Caldwell University, following up a 7-6 eight-inning win by toppling the Tigers 6-1 in the rematch. The Bulldogs, who improved to 16-7 overall, went 7-3 during their five-day stay in the Sunshine State and will now face Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opposition for the remainder of the 2015 season. That includes this Tuesday's (March 23) league opener against St. Cloud State University at James S. Malosky Stadium.

In the see-saw Game One clash with Caldwell, the Bulldogs took their first lead (5-3) of the morning in the bottom of the fifth inning only to watch the Cougars draw even with a pair of runs in their next at bats. In the eighth inning  -- and with the international rule in play, Caldwell (3-8) scored once on a UMD error, but the Bulldogs' Natalie Wright came through in the clutch by delivering a two-out, two-run single to center field to clinch the win. It was one of four hits for the rookie second baseman, who also drove in one other run. Shortstop Becky Smith had the other RBI while another freshman, center fielder Hannah Schmoll, went 3-for-4 and both sophomore left fielder Heather Woyak and junior third baseman Sami Schynder had two hits. Sophomore Sam Hartmann went all eight innings and yielded six hits for the Bulldogs.

The ensuing game, UMD put up two runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back. The second of those runs was came off a solo home run by Smith, who finished with three hits and all and four RBI. Rice drove in the Bulldogs' other two runs with a single in the fifth and another in the sixth. Junior Cayli Sadler tossed a four-hitter and struck out three in the complete game victory.