The University of Minnesota Duluth put the clamps on a three-game losing streak by salvaging a split in its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader at Upper Iowa University on Friday.  The Peacocks opened the day with a 1-0 walk-off victory, but the Bulldogs rebounded to blank the hosts 6-0 in the rematch.
UMD had been shut out three straight times -- the first that had happened since the 2005 season -- before taking down Upper Iowa.. 

It was a pitching duel in the opener, as senior pitcher Sam Hartmann took the mound for the Bulldogs. Hartmann (11-6) held UIU  to just one run on five hits with the last two of those coming in the seventh inning -- a one out double and a two-out single that plated the winning running. Junior shortstop Becky Smith, sophomore first baseman Kalynn Tilton and freshman left fielder Lauren Greeder accounted for the three UMD hits in the setback -- all singles.

UMD (29-13 overall; 13-5 NSIC) capitalized on four UIU errors in the nightcap, collecting four unearned runs to take a 4-0 lead through four innings. Sophomore right fielder Sammi Sadler got things going for the Bulldogs in the first inning, driving in two with a bases-loaded single. Sadler would go 3-for-4 with three RBI in the game while rookie third baseman Lauren Oberlee was 2-for-3 and scored twice and like, Sadler, doubled once. Sophomore pitcher Valerie Hohol (12-2) continued to keep her right arm hot, throwing a complete game with no runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. In her last three outings, Hohol has posted a 0.37 ERA in 18.2 innings of work while striking out 15 batters.

The Bulldogs will wrap up their eight-game road trip against Northern State University on Tuesday (Apr. 18) with a 2 p.m. twinbill.