The University of Minnesota Duluth split on day two of the Bulldogs' four-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series against the University of Sioux Falls thanks to a walk-off that gave the "home" Bulldogs a 3-1 series win at Harmodon Park in Sioux Falls.

Senior outfielder Spencer Diedrich ripped a double to the left field gap in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring freshman pinch-runner Cory Krolikowski from first to give UMD (15-9, 8-4 NSIC) a 5-4 walk-off win in game one. An explosive seven-run sixth inning propelled Sioux Falls (11-14, 5-4 NSIC) to a victory in game two, knocking off the Bulldogs 13-8 despite a comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh.

Senior first baseman Alex Wojciechowski continued his hot streak in the first inning of game one, dribbling a seeing-eye single past a diving shortstop that scored the game's first run. An RBI groundout by senior second baseman Jimmy Heck got a second run to the plate in support of junior left-hander Kevin Stocke. Stocke went 5.1 strong without allowing an earned run as the Cougars scored unearned runs in each of the second and third innings to hold a 4-3 lead heading into the sixth inning. That's when Heck returned to the plate, doubling to left field to score senior third baseman Kyle Comer to draw the Bulldogs even.

After a scoreless seventh and eighth innings from the right-handed combination of sophomore Alex Ferguson, who had three strikeouts in 1.1 innings, and senior Wes Mleziva (1-0), the Bulldogs finally got to Cougars starter Dan Johnson (1-3) again in the bottom of the eighth with freshman designated hitter Tyler Wojciechowski drawing a walk to put a runner on ahead of Diedrich's game-winning double.

Sioux Falls 13, UMD 8
UMD needed another comeback effort in the shortened seven-inning second game (as a result of game one going to extras) as Sioux Falls scored twice in the first and fourth innings, first on the back of a two-run double by third baseman Dylan Gavin and later on back-to-back home runs by Gavin and designated hitter Ed Reichenbach. A solo home run of his own by Diedrich put the Bulldogs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning but down 4-1, and UMD took that momentum into the next inning.

As the Bulldogs turned over the line-up in the fifth, sophomore outfielder Brett Milazzo lined a double down the left field line, junior outfielder Grant Farley got hit by a pitch, and A. Wojciechowski blooped a single to left field to load the bases. Comer turned a pitch around and nearly put UMD ahead with a grand slam but settled for a double to deep right center field, scoring two. The Bulldogs continued to have luck on their side as Heck bled a single through the infield to clear the bases of Wojciechowski and Comer, putting UMD up 5-4 and getting sophomore left-hander Marcus Frederickson off the hook for the early deficit. The southpaw tossed 4.2 innings allowing the four runs on six hits while striking out five. Junior righty Colton Sinning (0-1) got the team out of the fifth inning, but the Bulldogs could not hold a lead in the sixth.

Three Bulldog hurlers took the mound in the inning as USF regained its lead and then some, tacking on seven runs in the inning and later adding two more in the top of the seventh. Despite that, UMD had the dying run on-deck as the game closed in the bottom of the inning. With Heck and Comer on ahead of him, freshman designater hitter Eric Yachinich dropped a double in the right field gap, scoring the first two runs of the inning. That brough Gavin to the mound after his early-game heroics to close out the game. After a pair of walks to load the bases, junior shortstop Brian Pierce singled home a run to get the Bulldogs back within striking distance for the top of the order. A long foul flyout followed by a groundball doubleplay ended the UMD rally there, and gave a victory to Cougars starter Zachary Miller (2-3).

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will continue the NSIC season on the road this Wednesday afternoon as the team travels to Marshall, Minnesota to take on Southwest Minnesota State University. First pitch between the Bulldogs and Mustangs is set for 1:30 p.m.