It wasn't the perfect ending the University of Minnesota Duluth was hoping for but they managed a split on the final day of the HyVee Classic in Joseph, Mo. UMD battled back from a five-run deficit by forcing extras and eventually completing the 8-7 comeback win over Northeastern State. The Bulldogs failed to mount another, however, falling 4-2 to the University of Central Missouri. The Bulldogs finished the three-day tournament 5-1 and pushed their record to 16-8 overall.

Northeastern State took a commanding 7-2 lead into the fifth inning and seemingly had all but locked the game up. The RiverHawks committed three errors in the fifth inning to lend a hand to the Bulldogs as their bats finally awoken. Freshman designated hitter Ashley Taipale, who smashed a RBI double in the third, used one those errors to her advantage reaching base allowing freshman third baseman Lauren Oberle to score. Later, freshman Lexi Janigo pinch-hit single and freshman outfielder Lauren Greeder singled to center each knock in a run reduce the deficit to 7-5. In the seventh, the Bulldogs benefited on another error that allowed sophomore catcher Hannah Bloch to reach second. Bloch would score two batters later when junior outfielder Hannah Schmoll scorched a liner up the middle. After a pitching change, junior second baseman Natalie Wright dialed in on the new pitcher crushing a ground-rule double to right center to send the game into extras.

Sophomore pitcher Valerie Hohol pitched five innings of stellar relief giving up two runs, one earned, to hold the RIverHawks in check. Hohol, the product of New Life Academy, shut down NSU in the extra frame stranding a runner at third to give the Bulldogs the opportunity to steal it in the bottom half. With Oberle starting on second, sophomore outfielder Sammi Sadler advanced Oberle to third on a bunt single and sophomore first baseman Kalynn Tilton did the rest on a sacrifice walk-off.

Taipale started in the circle for the Bulldogs in their first setback in eight games, hurling six innings of four-run ball. Taipale, the local native of Duluth, Minn., struck out five but also allowed five free passes. Four of those five walks occurred in the three-run third inning that gave the Jennies a 4-0 cushion. Schmoll was able to cut that lead in half with her bases-loaded 2-RBI single to center in the fifth but UCM stymied the offense the remainder of the game.

The Bulldogs will return to the diamond Tuesday, March 28 for their home opener and begin Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play against inter-state rival St. Cloud State University. First pitch of the double header at Junction Avenue Field is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. start time.