The University of Minnesota Duluth picked up its first series sweep of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, downing Southwest Minnesota State University by scores of 7-2 and 16-9 on Wednesday afternoon in a doubleheader at Alumni Field in Marshall, Minnesota.

Sophomore outfielder Brett Milazzo had three singles, including a bunt hit, and senior second baseman Jimmy Heck added his eighth home run of the season as UMD (17-9, 10-4 NSIC) pushed past the Mustangs in the opener, scoring in each of the second through sixth innings, to knock off Southwest Minnesota State (3-22, 1-9 NSIC).

Senior left-hander Spencer Diedrich (2-0) tossed a mostly clean 6.0 innings for the Bulldogs, running into trouble in only the third inning as the Mustangs strung together four of their six hits on the day in that inning, including a lead-off double. He struck out  six batters and walked just one. Junior right-hander Colton Sinning finished out the final frame, striking out one in a three-up, three-down effort.

Heck's home run got the scoring started for UMD, a solo shot in the second inning. His RBI groundout in the sixth inning book-ended the scoring for the Bulldogs. Senior third baseman Kyle Comer had two RBI singles, each time scoring Milazzo, who had two steals to go with his 3-for-4 afternoon at the plate. Junior outfielder Grant Farley doubled home a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning as UMD answered SMSU's score in the bottom of the third.

It was the first appearance on the mound in two weeks and the first start in over a month for Diedrich, who picked up a save on March 29 against Minnesota State University and lowered his ERA to 2.30 in 15.2 innings, second-best on the team and tops among those with at least 3.0 innings. Southwest Minnesota State starter Cole Petersen (2-3) took the defeat on the mound, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and five walks in 4.2 innings.

UMD 16, Southwest Minnesota State 8
The Bulldogs' offense continued to roll in game two, scoring in 7-of-9 innings including a spectacular feat: hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs not once, but twice in a 16-8 rout of the Mustangs. The first six batters of the game reached base for UMD. Wojciechowski, Comer, and Heck put the Bulldogs on top with the first set of three-straight home runs (17, 5, 9) to secure a 4-0 lead before the Mustangs picked up a bat. SMSU quickly turned its fortune around in the bottom of the inning with seven runs on six hits, a walk, and a hit batter. Sophomore southpaw Tommy Hanson came on in relief after the Mustangs' regained the lead, throwing the next 3.0 innings and allowing just a pair of hits while striking out four.

The bottom of the order started a rally for the Bulldogs in the second inning as junior catcher Marco Lucarelli singled and junior shortstop Kyle Hoffman doubled to start the inning. An RBI groundout by junior outfielder Grant Farley brought home the first run, and Wojciechowski continued his hot game at the plate with an RBI triple to pull the Bulldogs back within one. After singles by Diedrich and freshman outfielder Corey Krolikwoski in the second inning, a walk and a hit batter pulled the Bulldogs even in the top of the third, getting both starting pitchers off the hook for the early scoring.

Hanson and the Twins bullpen shutdown the Mustangs offense, with sophomore right-hander Alex Ferguson tossing 3.1 innings allowing just one earned run while second-year lefty Jalen Busker and Heck each threw a shutout inning to close the game.

Heck's day at the plate was not complete after his first home run, as he went 3-for-6 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. His second home run of the day (10) started the second set of three-straight longballs as Diedrich launched his fourth home run followed by the first collegiate homer from freshman left fielder Cory Krolikwoski, who was 4-for-5 in the middle of the order for UMD. Nine different players drove in at least a run for the Bulldogs, including freshman pinch hitter Kyle Schmidt in the ninth inning.

UP NEXT
UMD is scheduled to return to Duluth this weekend as the Bulldogs continue the NSIC season against Concordia University, St. Paul. Opening pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Park.