The University of Minnesota Duluth was firing on all cylinders on Thursday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium, dominating Bemidji State University for a pair of victories. UMD exploded for a 16-3 win in the opener before topping the Beavers 6-1 in the nightcap.
UMD 16, BSU 3
The Bulldogs tacked runs on the board early and often, putting up a crooked number in five of six innings. Senior right fielder
Grant Farley got the scoring starting with an RBI double in the first inning and would score himself on an RBI fielder's choice from senior catcher
Marco Lucarelli. Junior
Tyler Midas added a third run in the first inning after a Bemidji State error to put UMD ahead 3-0.
The Bulldogs pulled away in the second, scoring five runs on seven hits. Junior outfielder
Brett Milazzo, Farley, and Midas all recorded at least one RBI, highlighted by a two-RBI single by Midas.
Sophomore southpaw
Ryan Cunningham posted a solid performance on the mound, coasting through six innings with two runs allowed and earning his first win of the season. Sophomore
Jeremy Thorson pitched the final inning, giving up one hit and one run.
Seven Bulldogs picked up two or more hits - including senior left fielder
Matt Vogt who went 2-for-4 with a team-high four RBI. Vogt belted a two-run home run to right field to cap off the 16-run outburst for UMD. Milazzo concluded the game with a team-leading three hits and scored a pair of runs. Sophomore first baseman
Tyler Wojciechowski posted two hits in three at bats while also drawing a walk.
UMD 6, BSU 1
The effective pitching of the Bulldogs in the first game carried over to the rematch, junior
Colin Baumgard was impressive in throwing a complete game with just one run allowed. Baumgard struck out six Beavers while giving up only four hits.
UMD picked up a run in the first inning on a Midas sacrifice fly and would get all the run support in the following inning when senior shortstop
Brian Pierce drove home two more runs with a single to left field. Bemidji chipped the score to 3-1 in the bottom half of the second inning, but would get no closer. The Bulldogs added three more runs in the fifth inning when Farley crushed a three-run homer to left to extend the UMD lead to 6-1.
Milazzo finished his successful day with a cumulative 5-for-7 at the plate after picking up two more hits in game two. The junior also added a pair of stolen bases. Farley was the only other Bulldog to record a pair of hits, ending up 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
Collectively, UMD racked up seven hits and committed two errors, while Bemidji State knocked four hits and had one error.
The Bulldogs will return to the field at U.S. Bank Stadium tomorrow night as they square off with Minnesota State University-Mankato. The teams will play a pair of games with the opener beginning at 6 p.m.
