The University of Minnesota Duluth took the field Sunday afternoon to complete their four-game season-opening series with Pittsburg State, but were unable to contain the Gorilla offense in each game, dropping game one 16-9 before falling in game two 10-8. With the losses, the Bulldogs move to 1-3 on the young season.

Pittsburg State 16, UMD 9

In the opener, UMD and Pittsburg State matched each other's 16 hits, but costly errors along with timely hitting allowed the home team to come out on top. The Bulldogs committed six errors and walked seven batters to give the Gorilla offense all the help they needed.

Junior right-hander Alex Ferguson picked up the start on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up four earned runs (six total) on four hits. Freshman southpaw Rece Dietrich took hold of the relieving duties in the third inning, and impressed in 4.1 innings of solid work -- allowing just one run and striking out four batters.

Offensively, sophomore corner infielder Tyler Wojciechowski belted a solo home run to right center field in the in the seventh inning and found success in his other at bats as well -- finishing the game 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and runs scored. Junior Tyler Midas continued to build upon his hot start to the season, picking up three hits in five at bats and scoring two runs. Senior catcher Marco Lucarelli also smacked three hits, including an RBI triple in the fifth inning off of sophomore Dante Richardson.

The teams traded runs through the first seven innings, but a massive eighth frame vaulted the Gorillas past the Bulldogs. Pittsburg State notched nine runs on nine hits and three UMD errors, turning a 9-7 Bulldog lead into a 16-9 Gorilla advantage -- a margin that would prove to be the final score after a scoreless ninth inning.

Pittsburg State 10, UMD 8

In the nightcap, junior Colin Baumgard toed the rubber to open the game, allowing four runs in the first three innings. UMD used a six-run fourth inning to gain a 6-4 advantage, due in part to a two-RBI double by freshman outfielder Drew Stewart, who finished the game 2-for-4. Senior third baseman Kyle Hoffman also added an RBI single in the fourth inning, driving home senior outfielder Matt Vogt.

Pittsburg State wasted little time jumping back in front, responding with six runs of its own in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Junior infielder Colton Pogue tallied a two-RBI triple, while junior first baseman Andrew Vogelbach smashed a two-run home run.

UMD would chip away with two runs in the sixth inning to bring the score to 10-6, but would be held scoreless in the seventh to cap off the series with a 10-6 loss.

Midas drove in three more runs on the game, bringing his season total to a team-leading six in four games played. Junior pitcher Jalen Busker tossed two innings with one run allowed, with senior Colton Sinning and junior Marcus Frederickson combining for a shutout sixth inning.

The Bulldogs will have a two week break before taking a trip to Florida for the RussMatt Central Florida Invite, beginning on March 6.