After falling in its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament opener on Thursday, the University of Minnesota Duluth was left facing a "win-or-go-home" situation for the remainder of the three-day double-elimination tournament. The Bulldogs responded to that challenge Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D., by defeating Northern State University (4-0), Augustana University (4-2) and Southwest Minnesota State in three consecutive knockout games. That puts UMD (35-14 overall) three wins away from claiming its first NSIC Tournament crown since 2002. That quest continues Saturday with a 10 a.m. clash against NSIC regular season champion Minnesota State University-Mankato with the winner moving on to face unbeaten Upper Iowa University.

UMD 4, Northern State 0
The Bulldogs opened the day by getting a clutch two-out, two-RBI hit from sophomore center fielder Hannah Schmoll (a double) in the second inning and sophomore second baseman Natalie Wright in the fourth while senior Cayli Sadler tossed a three-hitter. Schmoll, Wright and freshman designated player Kalynn Tilton each had two hits for UMD, which was eliminated from the NSIC Tournament one year ago by these same Wolves (25-32 overall). Sadler, UMD's all-time leader in wins, ptiching appearances and innings pitched, struck out three and walked three en route to posting her fourth shutout of the spring and 12th as a Bulldog.

UMD 4, Augustana 2
UMD pounded out 10 hits at the expense of Northern State and repeated that offensive feat against Augustana (35-19). The Bulldogs raced to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring on a Viking error and Natalie Wright's solo homer. Wright, a 2016 All-NSIC first team selection, then delivered the knockout blow two innning later -- a two-run shot to center field. -- and she, along with senior first baseman Ashley Lewis, sophomore shortstop Becky Smith and senior third baseman Sammi Schynder all went 2-for-3. Junior Sam Hartmanm (17-6) got the start in the circle and allowed eight hits and three runs before being replaced by Sadler with one out in the sixth. Sadler gave up just two singles the rest of the year for her seventh career save -- one shy of the program record.

UMD 5, Southwest Minnesota State 4
Becky Smith homered in both the fourth and sixth inning and helped UMD erase a 4-1 deficit in the process. Smith led off the fourth by depositing an Alex O'Conner offering over the left field fence to make it 4-2 Mustangs. The Bulldogs added another run on Sami Schnyder's ground out to second and then took the lead for good on Smith's two-run home run (her seventh of the season) with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. In addition four RBI, Smith was 3-for-3 at the plate while Ashley Lewis chipped in with two hits for UMD, which got five-plus inning of solid relief from Sam Hartmann. Hartmann (18-6) took over for starter Cayli Sadler with one out in the second inning and proceeded to limit Southwest Minnesota State (19-33 overall) to just two hits and no runs while winning for the 12th time in her last 13 decisions.