Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The University of Minnesota Duluth made its 2016 debut Friday at the 8-State Classic by falling 15-4 to Harding University and 2-1 to the University of Arkansas-Monticello in Bentonville, Ark.

The Bulldogs, under the direction of first-year head coach Jen Walter, spotted Harding four runs in the top of the first inning and never recovered as the Bison went on to pound out 14 hits in the five-inning victory. Trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the third, sophomore second baseman Natalie Wright doubled in the Bulldogs' first run of the season, but the Harding (4-3 overall) answered with a seven-run outburst in their next at bats. Sophomore shortstop Becky Smith belted a three-run homer -- the 12th of her somewhat young career -- in the fifth inning for the Bulldogs, who were held to four hits, including a pair from Wright, by Harding pitcher Hannah Johnson.

"Harding out hit, out ran and out pitched us," said Walter.  "It was obviously tough to get our offense going when we were down 4-0 before we picked up a bat."

Against Arkansas-Monticello (which like Harding is a member of the Great America Conference), Wright drove in Ashley Schilling with a double to right center in the top of the sixth inning after the senior right fielder stole third for UMD's lone score. Junior lefthander Sam Hartmann took the complete game loss, faning four and surrendering just seven hits.  One of those was a solo home run in the top of the fourth that put the Bollweevils (2-3 overall) up for good at 1-0. Arkansas-Monticello added another run the following inning.