Extra innings have been an extra bonus for the University of Minnesota Duluth in recent times.

Since falling 3-2 to Southeastern Oklahoma State University on March 17, 2014, the Bulldogs have won seven of eight games that have gone beyond regular. The latest of those triumphs came Sunday afternoon at Junction Avenue Field where UMD rallied past visiting Augustan University 8-7 in eight innings before going on to complete the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader sweep with a 6-5 win.

UMD, which checked in at No. 10 in the latest NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, is now 27-12 overall and 16-6 in the NSIC. Augustana College, slotted seventh in those same rankings, fell to 21-14 in all games and own a share of second place in the NSIC standings at 18-5. Wayne State, which traded wins at UMD yesterday, owns a league-leading 19-5 mark.

The day got off to an ominous start for the Bulldogs as  third baseman Shannon Petersen belted a grand slam home run in the Vikings' first at-bats. It remained 4-0 Augustana until the bottom of the fifth when UMD batted around and struck for five runs on six hits, including a two-run RBI double from sophomore second baseman Natalie Wright.  The Vikings tied it in the seventh to force extra innings and then scored twice in the eighth to go up 7-5. The Bulldogs opened up their half of the eighth with three straight singles and then took advantage of a Viking error and a wild pitch, which brought home senior first baseman Ashley Lewis with the winning run. Freshman left fielder Sammi Sadler picked up three of UMD's 14 hits while sophomore center fielder Hannah Schmoll, senior right fielder Ashley Schilling and Wright all went 2-for-5. Senior Cayli Sadler went the first 7 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and six runs during that time before rookie Valeri Hohol came on to get the last two outs and improve to 3-0 on the year.

In the rematch, UMD trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the fourth, but took the lead for good with two runs and added another run in the fifth. Starter Sam Hartmann (13-5) posted her seventh straight victory after scattering nine hits and giving up four runs in 4 1/3 innings of run. She was replaced by Hohol, who lasted until the top of the seventh when Augustana loaded the bases with no outs. Sadler got the final three outs (although she did walk in one run) en route to earning her first save of 2016 -- and sixth as a Bulldog. Wright, who has now now hit safely in 28 of last 29 games, and shortstop Becky Smith paced the Bulldogs offensively with thwo hits each.

UMD will remain at home to host NSIC rival  Northern State University this Wednesday (April 20) in a 2 p.m. twinbill.