The University of Minnesota Duluth opened its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series against Winona State University on Sunday afternoon sweeping a doubleheader at Loughrey Field in Winona, Minnesota.

UMD (12-6, 5-1 NSIC) flexed its offensive muscles in game one, led by senior second baseman Jimmy Heck who hit three home runs as the Bulldogs rolled to a 13-7 victory over the Warriors. Senior first baseman Alex Wojciechowski got the Bulldogs off to another early start in game two, lifting his 12th homer of the season in the first inning to take an early lead on Winona State (3-15, 0-5 NSIC). The Warriors would tie the game, briefly, in the bottom of the inning against senior right-hander Austin Vaske (2-1), but a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Marco Lucarelli put UMD back on top 2-1 and they led the rest of the way, eventually taking home a 14-6 victory.

The Bulldogs did even more damage most of its damage in the middle innings, chasing WSU starter Daniel Karlin-Kamin (0-4) after scoring five runs in the fourth inning. UMD rallied with four hits, a walk, an error, a sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout to plate those five runners and continued with three runs in each of the next two innings to jump out to a 13-2 lead. Vaske would work 5.1 innings for the Bulldogs, striking out six while allowing just three earned runs on five hits. Sophomore lefty Tommy Hanson relieved Vaske, striking out three over the final 3.2 innings.

Senior third baseman Kyle Comer went 4-for-5 in the night cap, hitting a double and a triple while driving in a run. Heck and Comer led five Bulldogs scoring multiple runs, each crossing the plate three times each. UMD had eight extra-base hits including doubles by six different Bulldogs. Junior shortstop Kyle Hoffman, Lucarelli, and freshman designated hitter Tyler Wojciechowski each drove in two runs in the nightcap.

UMD 13, Winona State 7
Winona State had trouble keeping the Bulldogs' bats in the yard as UMD launched six home runs in the series opener, including three off the bat of Heck to give the road team a 13-7 victory.  Heck was one of three Bulldogs with multiple hits in the game, hitting three longballs (6) and driving in six runs. UMD had not had a three-homer game in the past 11 seasons and have now had one in two-straight games (Heck and A. Wojciechowski). Outfielders Grant Farley (5) and Spencer Diedrich (1) each deposited a three-run bomb over the fence, and Lucarelli also hit his first long ball of the season, all in support of senior left-hander Bo Hellquist (3-1), who worked through 5.2 innings to pick up the victory. He allowed four earned runs on four hits, two walks, and striking out four.

Sophomore lefty Mitchell Stalsberg (1-4) took the loss for the Warriors, giving up 10 runs (eight earned) on eight hits including three home runs and three walks. He did strike out seven Bulldogs in 3.2 innings of work. Junior right-hander Colton Sinning closed out the game for the Bulldogs, allowing a run for the first time all season in his seventh appearance, but struck out two in 1.1 innings.

UP NEXT
UMD and Winona State will continue their series tomorrow afternoon in a Monday matinee in Winona. Opening pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. at Loughrey Field.