The University of Minnesota Duluth completed a Northern Sun Intercolleigate Conference series victory, taking 3-of-4 from Winona State University on the weekend with a split against the Warriors on Sunday at Wade Stadium in Duluth.
UMD (17-11, 11-7 NSIC) got a solid pitching performance from a freshman starter and let its bats do the rest of the talking as the Bulldogs downed Winona State (14-18, 12-8 NSIC) by a 9-3 final in game two. The Warriors forced extra innings for the second straight day in the opener, plating a run in the top of the ninth and holding on to down UMD 9-3.
COVERING THE BASES• Junior third baseman
Jimmy Heck's bat remained hot in the weekend set, getting on base six times Sunday, 3-of-5 with a double, a triple, and three walks, driving in four runs and scoring twice in the doubleheader. Sophomore left fielder
Grant Farley was 4-of-8 with three RBIs and a run scored, while junior third baseman
Kyle Comer and junior outfielder
Josh Denisen each crossed the plate three times for the Bulldogs.
• Freshman right-hander
Nick Dorfman pitched a complete game, surrending three runs, while scattering 11 hits and striking out four, saving himself by allowing just one hit for extra bases and one walk. Sophomore right-hander
Kevin Stocke pitched to a no-decision in game one, tossing 6.1 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out two. His brother
Michael Stocke took a hard-luck loss out of the bullpen, throwing two innings, allowing one earned on a walk and a hit.
UMD had an answer for Winona State nearly every time they scored, plating two runs in the bottom of inning two after the Warriors scored one, then crossing home three times in the bottom of the fifth after WSU regained the lead with two runs in the top. The Warriors would tie the game in the top of the fifth, and three relievers allowed just a pair of Bulldog hits, striking out seven over the final 4.2 innings as Winona State would score on a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth to take home the extra-inning victory.
With game two shifted to seven innings, Dorfman took to heart the opportunity to go the distance, giving up a single run in the top of the first, striking out the last batter of the inning to end the rally. UMD once again answered in the bottom of the inning, with Comer bringing home Denisen on a single before Farley drove him in for the go-ahead score. The Bulldogs scored multiple runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to pull away, Heck finishing with four runs batted in in the game.
UP NEXTUMD will take on a pair of northern Minnesota rivals this weekend in the University of Minnesota, Crookston and Bemidji State University. The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles will meet Wednesday with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. in Crookston.
