After late March snowfall in Mankato, Minnesota delayed the start of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season, the University of Minnesota Duluth finally returned to the diamond after a 16-day layoff to begin a four-game league series against Minnesota State University (R.V.) at the MSU Baseball Complex. UMD (8-5, 1-0 NSIC) picked up a 6-2 victory in game one while game two was called due to darkness in the top of the ninth inning tied at 2-2.

Each team threatened early in game one, with Minnesota State (9-6, 0-1 NSIC, R.V.) putting runners on the corners in the bottom of the first and the Bulldogs loading the bases on three one-out singles in the second, but Mavericks sophomore right-hander Dalton Roach (1-2) and Bulldog southpaw Bo Hellquist (2-1) each shut down the rally without any damage. The top of the order came back around leading off the third inning for UMD, and with a second look at Roach, junior outfielder Grant Farley connected for his third home run of the season, giving the Bulldogs an early lead, but an infield single and throwing error in the bottom half of the inning evened the game at 1-1.

Hellquist and Roach each kept the offense at a minimum via the strikeout. UMD's lefty ace collected 10 strikeouts on the afternoon in 5.2 innings of work. The Bulldogs worked back a lead as junior shortstop Brian Pierce began a rally in the fifth inning with a single and a stolen base, eventually coming around to score on a single by senior third baseman Kyle Comer. Comer and Farley, who reached on a walk, would come around on another longball, this time by senior second baseman Jimmy Heck (3), which put UMD up 5-1. The hits kept on coming with freshman designated hitter Tyler Wojciechowski, senior outfielder Spencer Diedrich, and junior catcher Marco Lucarelli each adding a single to bring home another run and chase Roach after 4.2 innings of work despite collecting eight strikeouts in the start. Senior Peter Gaustad came in to close out the inning after the Bulldogs had batted around against MSU's starter.

Minnesota State added a second run with doubles by pinch-hitter Ryan Moffett and senior infielder Kyle Toth in the bottom of the sixth, chasing Hellquist but junior right-hander Colton Sinning entered and shut the door, continuing his string of five scoreless appearances to start his season. After giving UMD an offensive jolt earlier in the game, Heck took the mound in the bottom of the seventh, striking out one and allowing just one walk to close out the 6-2 victory.

UMD 2, Minnesota State 2 (9th) - Darkness
After playing eight complete, game two of the series was called due to darkness knotted at 2-2. Minnesota State scratched an earned run across the plate with an error and an RBI single in the bottom of the second. UMD drew even two innings later when Diedrich drew a bases-loaded walk, driving in Farley. A lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning would eventually come around to score on a sacrifice fly, putting the Mavericks up 2-1. Diedrich would drive in his second run of the afternoon, this time unearned, with a single in the top of the sixth that brought home Heck, who had also led off the inning with a walk.

Bulldog head coach Bob Rients handed the ball to Austin Vaske for game two, getting 5.2 innings out of his senior right-hander, who allowed just one earned run while scattering three hits and four walks, and walking four. Sophomore lefty Tommy Hanson then entered and tossed the final 2.1 innings of the day, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two. He'll be the pitcher of record as the Bulldogs take their first hacks of the ninth inning as the game resumes Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. just ahead of the teams' scheduled doubleheader.