The University of Minnesota Duluth saw its 2016 season come to a close Friday afternoon in Magnolia, Ark., where the Bulldogs were ousted from the NCAA Division II Central 2 Regional by the University of Central Oklahoma. One day after suffering a 5-2 setback to Missouri Western State University in the opening round of the four-team, double-elimination event, UMD was ambushed 8-4 by the Bronchos to conclude the year with a 35-17 overall record.

For only the second time in 24 times this spring, the Bulldogs failed to hold a fourth-inning lead as they went into the fifth up 2-1 only to see Central Oklahoma score seven straight runs the rest of the way. That included the sixth inning when the Broncos broke a 2-2 deadlock by scoring four times.

The first four hitters in the UMD batting order -- sophomore center fielder Hannah Schmoll (two), sophomore second baseman Natalie Wright (one), sophomore shortstop Becky Smith (three) and senior first baseman Ashley Lewis (two) accounted for eight of the Bulldogs' nine hits. Wright belted her career-high and team-leading eighth homer of the season with two outs and none on in the bottom of the third while Schmoll drove in one run with a triple to left center field in the bottom of the fourth, which put the Bulldogs ahead 2-1 at the time. UMD tacked on two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, getting an RBI single from Lewis and a base-loaded walk from freshman pinch hitter Kalynn Tilton.

Junior southpaw Sam Hartmann (18-8) threw the opening five innings and gave up nine hits and five runs (four of which were earned). She was relieved by senior Cayli Sadler, who in her school-record 129th pitching appearance, allowed three runs and three hiths in two innings of work.

Friday's NCAA II postseason loss meant the end of the line for a quintet of UMD seniors including Lewis, Sadler, designated player/first baseman Abbey Nelson, right fielder Ashley Schilling and third baseman Sami Schnyder.