The University of Minnesota Duluth topped 20 runs in game two of a Saturday doubleheader but settled for a split with the University of Sioux Falls in the teams' four-game opening Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series.

UMD (7-5) fell in extra innings, 5-4 (eighth), in game one to Sioux Falls (5-15), before coming out swinging in game two, scoring at least one run in every inning to outslug the Cougars 21-4 in seven innings.

COVERING THE BASES
• Junior left-hander Bo Hellquist tossed seven solid innings, allowing just a pair of earned runs after hitting two batters in the first inning. He'd finish with four strikeouts but have to settle for a no decision on the mound. Freshman Nick Dorfman tossed four innings, allowing just four hits and a pair of earned runs to pick up his second victory of the year. Three relievers came in to close the game, including hitless innings by freshman Alex Ferguson and junior Kyle Fritz.
• Sophomre outfielder Grant Farley drove in four runs on four hits, including a pair of doubles to continue his tear to start the season. Junior second baseman Jimmy Heck was 4-of-, driving in three runs and crossing the plate four times. Senior centerfielder John Meyer had four RBIs and four runs scored, one of four Bulldogs (Heck, junior first baseman Alex Wojciechowski, and junior third baseman Kyle Comer) to cross the plate four times.

The Bulldogs needed extra innings against Sioux Falls, as Hellquist settled down after a rough first inning to toss seven solid innings.  After scratching across a run when Goff singled home Heck after a double in the eighth inning, Hellquist seemed in line for his first win of the year, but the Cougars struck for a pair of runs against senior righty reliever Wes Mleziva, first on a homer by slugger Matthew Minnick and then a walk-off error by the UMD infield to knock off the Bulldogs in game one.

Six UMD players had multiple hits, six had multiple RBIs, and six crossed the plate multiple times as the Bulldogs rolled in game two, knocking USF starter Eric Brothers out after 1.2 innings  innings, drawing four of the Cougars' 13 walks allowed in the inning.

UP NEXT
UMD will continue conference play next weekend against Concordia University, St. Paul with a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. Opening pitch for game one is set for 1:30 p.m.