The University of Minnesota Duluth will launch both its 2017 home and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedules on Tuesday (March 28) with a doubleheader against St. Cloud State University. The first pitch is set for 12 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium on the UMD campus.

The Bulldogs, who are 16-8 on the year, have been idle since March 19 when they had their eight-game winning streak snapped via a 4-2 loss to the University of Central Missouri at the Hy-Vee Classic in St. Joseph, Mo. UMD is a perfect 4-0 against nationally ranked teams (National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Poll) this spring, having defeated No. 13 Southern Indiana University, No. 7 Grand Valley State University, No. 25 Southern New Hampshire University and No. 18 Missouri Southern State University.

Sophomore outfielder Sammi Sadler is one of five UMD starters who is averaging over .300 at the plate as she'll enter Tuesday's twinbill sporting a team-high .349 mark. Junior shortstop Becky Smith (.338) is next followed by junior outfielder Hannah Schmoll, freshman third baseman Lauren Oberle (.324) and junior second baseman Natalie Wright (.318). Oberle tops the 2017 Bulldogs in home runs (five), slugging percentage (.606), RBI  (19 -- she shares that honor with Smith) and on-base percentage (.402). Senior Sam Hartmann, one of four Bulldogs to see pitching time in 2017, owns the best earned run average (1.89), record (8-3 in 12 starts) and shutout total (4) on the staff and has struck out 47 batters -- while walking 11 -- in 74 innings of work. 

UMD went 8-2 at home last year and wound up placing second in the final NSIC standings with a 21-7 mark.