The University of Minnesota Duluth took to Fayette, Iowa to kick off its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule on Sunday afternoon, finding success with a pair of victories over the Upper Iowa University Peacocks. The theme of the day was explosive innings for the Bulldogs, notching five-run innings three times over the course of the two victories.

UMD 15, UIU 7
 
In the opener, UMD scored occasional runs but struggled to find its offensive stride through the first five innings – scoring four runs on five hits to grasp a 4-3 lead with a pair of innings to play. The Bulldog bats exploded for 11 runs combined in the sixth and seventh inning, eliminating any hope of a Peacock comeback.
 
UMD knocked a dagger in the top of the seventh inning when sophomore catcher Ben Danielson belted a pinch-hit grand slam to left field, tacking four more runs onto the board to extend the lead to 14-3.
 
Nine Bulldogs got involved in the action offensively, led by sophomore first baseman Tyler Wojciechowski who posted three hits on five trips to the plate, driving in two RBI and scoring two runs himself. Junior outfielder Brett Milazzo sparked the scoring out of the leadoff spot, scoring four runs while reaching base in four of his six at bats.
 
The UMD pitching staff used four pitchers in seven innings on the mound, with junior southpaw Jalen Busker snagging his first win of the season as a result of his three innings of scoreless work. Junior Marcus Frederickson and freshman Evan Vick also contained the Peacock offense, combining to toss three innings while allowing three runs.
 
UMD 9, UIU 2
 
Freshman left-handed pitcher Rece Dietrich stepped up in game two for UMD, hurling six innings while allowing just one run on his way to earning a win. Junior Alex Ferguson tossed two innings of relief before freshman Kole Zuidmulder capped off a dominant Bulldog pitching performance with a scoreless ninth inning. The two runs scored by Upper Iowa mark the lowest of a UMD opponent through 12 games of the 2017 season.
 
With the score tied at one in the fifth inning, the Bulldog offense exploded for their second six-run inning of the day. Freshman Chase Thomas got the scoring started with an RBI double, driving in sophomore Eric Yachinich to put UMD up 2-1. Continuing on his efficient first game, Wojciechowski drove in two more runs on a bases-loaded single to left field. Senior catcher Marco Lucarelli followed up the feat by matching a two-RBI hit of his own, lacing a double to left field to extend the lead to five. Freshman Drew Stewart would tack on another run for the Bulldogs with a single into left field, giving the visitors all the run support they would need for the evening.
 
Stewart concluded the game with a 3-for-4 performance, one home run, and two RBI, while Wojciechowski ran his daily RBI total to four in addition to adding two more runs. Thomas posted a three hits in four attempts and a homer out of the nine-hole for the Bulldogs and drove in a pair of runs as well.
 
UMD will look for the four-game sweep over the Peacocks tomorrow afternoon, beginning at 12 p.m.