The University of Minnesota Duluth got four long balls from senior first baseman Alex Wojciechowski but settled for a doubleheader split with Pittsburg State University on day two of the team's four-game weekend set in Pittsburg, Kansas. UMD (1-2) took game one 18-9 but fell 9-8 in the nightcap in walk-off fashion.

Pittsburg State jumped out early on the Bulldogs in game two of the doubleheader, scoring two runs in each of the first four innings, knocking out sophomore left-hander Tommy Hanson after three innings of work. He'd escape the defeat as UMD once again charged back with a big inning, scoring five runs in the fourth inning to knot the game at 6-6. Senior first baseman Alex Wojciechowski hit his third home run of the doubleheader, depositing a ball past the left field fence to lead off the inning. His younger brother, freshman designated hitter Tyler Wojciechowski would single home the next run and come around to score alongside sophomore infielder Kyle Hoffman on a two-run game-tying triple by first-year outfield Corey Krolikowski, chasing Pittsburg State starter C. Lesmeister after 3.0+ innings.

Pitt State (4-3) would regain the lead in the bottom half of that inning, scoring two runs off sophomore right-hander Nick Dorfman. The elder Wojciechowski would add his fourth home run of the day leading off the fifth inning, bringing the Bulldogs back within one. Dorfman would produce 2.2 innings, allowing just the two runs, relieved by sophomore left-hander Marcus Frederickson in the bottom of the sixth. Wojciechowski's bid for a three-homer game fell short with a flyout leading off the seventh inning, but he was picked up with the very next at bat as senior third baseman Kyle Comer launched a game-tying home run, handing right-hander Ryan McKay his first blown save in four tries this season. The Bulldogs would threaten for more with senior second baseman Jimmy Heck and T. Wojciechowski each getting a free pass, but McKay shut the door and the teams would head to the bottom of the inning tied at 8-8.

Unfortunately for UMD, while A. Wojciechowski fell just shy of a three-home run game, one was occuring on the other side of the diamond as slugging first baseman Andrew Vogelbaugh lifted his third home run of the game -- and fourth of the day -- leading off the bottom of the seventh, giving Pittsburg State a walk-off win against Frederickson (0-1), with McKay's (1-0) blown save not costing the Gorillas' closer.

Bulldogs 18, Pittsburg State 9
The opening game saw UMD's offense explode in the middle innings to down Pittsburg State while senior left-handed Bo Hellquist (1-0) bulldogged his way through 5.0 innings.

Alex Wojciechowski launched two home runs while Grant Farley plated seven runs going 3-for-3 with a grand slam, two doubles, and three walks. The Bulldogs scored in 4-of-7 innings, crossing the plate 18 times on just 15 hits, aided by a pair of errors by the Gorillas defense and 10 walks allowed by their pitching staff. Nine batters scored at least a run for UMD with seven Bulldogs scoring multiple times. Junior catcher Marco Lucarelli and Farley each crossed the plate three times.

Hellquist fell behind early as Pittsburg State scored four in the first, but an error by the Bulldog defense brought home two unearned runs in the inning. He'd allow five total earned runs on the afternoon with three more Gorillas scoring in the fifth, but struck out six while earning his first win of the season. UMD would tie it with four in the second, knocking out sophomore lefthander Blaine Fisher (0-1) after just 1.2 innings, and then did even more damage against the first man out of the pen, scoring six runs off senior righty Nick Brandecker and seven overall in the third inning. The Bulldogs were not done yet, scoring six more runs in the sixth to lock up the team's first victory of the year. Junior right-hander Colton Sinning pitched a hitless sixth inning in his season debut, striking out two and walking one. Freshman lefty Ryan Cunningham would close out the game's final inning, striking out two in his collegiate debut.

The two teams will meet again Sunday afternoon in the getaway game in Pittsburg, Kansas. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.