It was a milestone day for the University of Minnesota Duluth head coach, Jen Walter, as she picked up collegiate win No. 500. Walter, who previously coached the St. Scholastica Saints to a 447-233 overall record (a .657 winning percentage) over 16 seasons, has seen the Bulldogs to a 54-24 overall record (a .684 winning percentage) under her watch since joining the team prior to the start of the 2016 season. 

"Any win feels great," Walter said when asked about win No. 500. "Obviously, milestones are pretty cool, and that's a big one. That just tells you I've been coaching a lot of games. So to get it at home, that's kind of special."

One couldn't ask for a better start to its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference campaign as UMD swept St. Cloud State University. 
The Bulldogs (18-8 overall; 2-0) took down the Huskies (16-12; 0-2) in their home opener by scores of 7-6 and 6-4. 

After starting the season 1-5, UMD has gone 17-3 since.

Fielding was problematic for the Bulldogs in the opening game, as they matched their 2017 single-game high of four errors. UMD quickly dug itself into a 6-2 hole, as SCSU took advantage of the errors by having back-to-back three-run innings. But the Bulldogs fought back, going for four hits and four runs to knot things up in the bottom of the fourth. In the following inning, freshman left fielder Jayme Langbehn knocked her first collegiate home run over the left field fence to give UMD a 7-6 lead and, ultimately, the win. Senior southpaw Sam Hartmann (W, 9-3) helped guide the Bulldogs to victory, as she threw for her team-leading 11th complete game. Hartmann has won her last five decisions and now sits with a 1.73 ERA on the season. Sophomore right fielder Sammi Sadler led UMD with three base hits in the game, while picking up her first collegiate stolen base in the process.

In the rematch, junior center fielder Hannah Schmoll got things started for the Bulldogs, smacking a triple to center. Schmoll would later score after pulling off a double steal with junior shortstop Becky Smith. A single off the bat of freshman first baseman Lauren Oberle would bring Smith around to give UMD a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Bulldogs would add on four more runs, which included a solo home run from freshman designated player Ashley Taipale, throughout the remainder of the game.

Sophomore pitcher Valerie Hohol (W, 5-0) toed the rubber for UMD. Hohol got off to a strong start, allowing no runs and just three hits in five innings of work before finding herself in a messy situation in the sixth. Hohol would be relieved after 5.1 innings by freshman Breanna Swint. Swint would go on to pick up her first collegiate save in a 6-4 win.

 The Bulldogs will remain at home as they face-off against the University of Mary Marauders (6-19) on Saturday (Apr. 1) at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and the Minot State Beavers (8-5) on Sunday (Apr. 2) at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.