Senior left-handed pitcher Spencer Diedrich threw five innings of no-hit ball before posting a complete game one-hitter and helping the University of Minnesota Duluth to sweep Upper Iowa University on the road in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon in Fayette, Iowa.

Diedrich (4-0) allowed just one hit and one unearned run, striking out six in 7.0 innings of work as the Bulldogs took game one 7-1, with senior third baseman Kyle Comer driving in four runs on a pair of doubles to provide the offense. UMD (29-9 overall; 22-4 NSIC) got a first-inning, two-run double from senior first baseman Alex Wojciechowski to lift the team to a 6-3 win in the nightcap.

The fourth-year southpaw lowered his season ERA to juts 1.57 in six appearances including five starts. He's allowed just four extra-base hits on the season and struck out 30, including six against Upper Iowa (14-23; 10-16), in 28.2 innings. Diedrich ran into trouble with a pair of runners on in the third inning after two of his three walks, but forced a groundball doubleplay to come out unscathed. A groundball single leading off the sixth inning by Luis Ravelo ended the no-hit bid, and the Peacocks junior shortstop eventually came around to score on a throwing error in the sixth inning, the only mark against Diedrich.

The Bulldogs scored the first run of the game thanks to two Upper Iowa errors in the second inning, helping freshman designated hitter Tyler Wojciechowsk around to score after a two-out hit. Junior outfielder Grant Farley hit an RBI double to add to the lead in the fourth, and after an intentional walk to A. Wojciechowski, Comer ripped a bases loaded double down the line to score three. Farley and Comer would account for the rest of the scoring in the sixth inning, as each drove in a run in the sixth to extend UMD's lead.

After being named NSIC Player of the Week earlier in the day, A. Wojciechowski was held hitless in game one for the first time in 11 games and just the fourth time all season. He had scored a run in 14 consecutive games before being kept off home plate in game two.

UMD 6, Upper Iowa 3
Wojciechowski broke up his one-game skid with a double in the first inning of game two, scoring Farley and junior shortstop Kyle Hoffman to give the Bulldogs an early lead. Farley hit his second double of the day in the sixth inning, eventually coming around to score on another fielding error by the Peacocks.

Errors on the UMD infield cost them the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore left-hander Tommy Hanson started his inning with two strikeouts and two walks, and seemed to be out of the inning before a throwing error charged to Jimmy Heck brought home a run.  A two-run single by Ravelo followed, tying the game at 3-3.

Senior left-hander Bo Hellquist took the mound to start the game for the Bulldogs, giving head coach Bob Rients 3.0 innings, striking out four while walking one and hitting two batters. He worked out of the trouble but also allowed hits, giving way to the bullpen. Hanson (3-0) threw 2.1 innings of relief, striking out three in a victory out of the bullpen.

Freshman outfielder Cory Krolikowski drew his third walk of the day in a pinch hitting appearance in the seventh inning (after two in a start during game one), moved up on a groundball and eventually came around to score on the second RBI single of the afternoon by Wojciechowski, giving UMD back its lead at 4-3 headed to the bottom of the inning.  Upper Iowa threatened in both the seventh and eighth innings against sophomore righty Alex Ferguson, but he handed the ball off to junior righty Colton Sinning, who, after a walk, got out of the eighth.

Krolikowski and Farley continued their strong offensive days in the top of the ninth, with a single leading off the inning and a double, respectively. After an intentional walk to A. Wojciechowski, senior second baseman Jimmy Heck added to the Bulldogs' lead with a single. T. Wojciechowski followed that up with a bases loaded walk for an RBI. UMD handed the 6-3 lead to Sinning to close out the game. He tossed a spotless ninth, striking out two in 1.1 innings to claim his first save of the season.

The win marked number 14 in a row for the Bulldogs, just one shy of the UMD program record.

ON DECK
The Bulldogs return to Bulldog Park this weekend (April 30-May 1) to host Minot State University in a four-game series. All NSIC doubleheaders feature one seven-inning game followed by a nine-inning game. If the first game goes to extra innings, then the second reverts to a seven-inning game as well. Saturday's doubleheader will celebrate Alumni Day at UMD. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.