A late-inning comeback by Minot State University put a scare into the Bulldogs, but the University of Minnesota Duluth held on, securing its program-record 16th consecutive victory and sweeping a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader against the Beavers on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Park in Duluth, Minnesota.

A rowdy group of Bulldog alumni watched from the grass just outside the home dugout as first-place UMD (31-9, 24-4 NSIC) got a pair of home runs from each of its senior sluggers - first baseman Alex Wojciechowski (30), second baseman Jimmy Heck (15), and third baseman Kyle Comer (9) - to knock off Minot State (7-28, 4-17 NSIC) by scores of 21-6 in game one and 8-7 in the nightcap. Heck matched the previous Bulldog all-time record for single season home runs with his two big flies, while Wojciechowski continued his outlandish season by doubling it.

UMD jumped out early in game two, getting back-to-back homers from Wojciechowski and Comer in the first inning and then plating five runs in the third to make it 8-1. The lead proved enough to get senior right-hander Austin Vaske (5-1) the victory, but the win would not come without drama as the Beavers scored in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings to get back into the game. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Williamson was 3-for-5 with a double and a home run, getting on base in the ninth as well, to lead the charge for Minot State. Senior right-hander Wes Mleziva shut the door after a hit and a walk in the ninth, getting a weak groundball back to him to force a double play and earn the Bulldogs a sweep.

Vaske tossed the first 6.2 innings for UMD, giving up five earned runs on six hits and three walks, but striking out 11 Beavers in the process. Junior righty Colton Sinning bridge the gap through the seventh and eighth innings, striking out four while giving up a pair of runs on a home run. Sophomore Wyatt Moore (0-3) allowed seven runs on eight hits, taking a narrow defeat on the mound for Minot State.

UMD 21, Minot State 6
Game one was far from a narrow defeat as UMD hit a blackjack, topping 20 runs for the third time this season. Comer, Heck, and Wojciechowski each homered in the opener as well but the Bulldogs also got longballs from its entire starting outfield: junior Grant Farley (9), senior Spencer Diedrich (6), and freshman Cory Krolikowski (3). UMD got hits from 11 different batters, including multi-hit days from five different players. The Bulldogs scored in each of the first four innings, including a nine-run fourth, and after a quiet fifth inning, added four more in the sixth for good measure.

Sophomore left-handed Marcus Frederickson (3-1) worked his way through 5.0 innings to pick up the win, surrendering five runs on seven hits but struck out eight Minot State players. Freshman right-hander Adam Hallberg tossed the final two frames, giving up one run on an RBI groundout while striking out four Beavers in his 2.0 innings of work. Junior lefty Tanner Alexander (1-6) took the loss for Minot, allowing eight runs (six earned) in 2.2 innings. A pair of relievers tossed the final 3.1 innings against UMD, giving up 13 runs on 11 hits, three walks, and three hit-batters.

The record-setting 16-straight wins surpassed the program record set over the course of two seasons from April 20, 2002 to February 26, 2003. A. Wojciechowski's 30th home run this season brought him within six of the all-time NCAA single season record with eight regular season games to go plus postseason play. Comer's five-hit day brought the Bulldog to a tie for fourth-place all-time in a Bulldog career. Mleziva's sixth save of the season tied his career high and also brought him within two of the UMD career (14) and single season marks (eight).

ON DECK
UMD and Minot State will return to the diamond tomorrow morning to close out their NSIC series with another doubleheader. 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. First pitch Sunday is set for 12:00 p.m. at Bulldog Park.