The University of Minnesota Duluth was unable to find the win column Saturday in the UAM 8-State Classic. The Bulldogs would drop their first game of the day 9-5 to the Henderson State Reddies, and lose in the bottom of the seventh 1-0 to the Pittsburg State Gorillas.

HSU (9-5) took a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning over UMD (1-3) and wouldn't look back. Junior shortstop Becky Smith knocked in the first run for the Bulldogs, hitting a solo shot to left field. HSU would go on to add a pair of runs in the second, fourth, and seventh inning to ultimately pull away with a 9-5 victory over UMD. Freshman third baseman collected her first hit, a solo shot to center in the fourth inning. Junior second baseman Natalie Wright and Smith would both finish with a pair of RBIs.

The Bulldog's second game of the day was a pitchers duel. Freshman Ashley Taipale (0-1) made her pitching debut for UMD, allowing just five hits and one earned run in 6.1 innings while striking out three. A walk-off RBI single off the bat of junior right fielder Shelby Miller would be the only run of the game as the Gorillas would come away with a 1-0 win. Junior pitcher Emmie Robertson (5-3) continued her dominance on the mound, striking out a career-high 13 batters. Robertson would allow just one hit and no walks in seven innings. That lone hit would come off the bat of junior center fielder Hannah Schmoll. Schmoll now has a hit in all contests for UMD thus far in the season. 

The Bulldogs will look to bounce back in its final two games of the 8-State Classic Sunday morning (Feb. 19) as it faces Missouri Western State (9-3) at 9 a.m. and Emporia State at 11 a.m.