Both the University of Minnesota Duluth and Minot State University had their hitting shoes Sunday as the two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rivals split an afternoon doubleheader at James S. Malosky Stadium after combining for 24 runs and 44 hits.

The Bulldogs won the opener in walk-off fashion 5-4 before the Beavers responded with a 9-6 triumph to put the clamps on UMD's five-game winning streak. The twinbill closed out a six-game homestand for UMD, which is now 21-9 overall and 5-1 in the NSIC. 

UMD began the day by jumping out to a 4-1 lead through five innings only to see Minot State (10-9 overall; 2-4 NSIC) put up three run in the top of the seventh. The Bulldog proceeded to load the bases on three straight hits in the bottom half of that inning, setting the table for freshman Ashley Taipale, who delivered a game-winning single. UMD racked up 14 hits (equaling a 2017 single-game high), getting three of those from sophomore first baseman Kalynn Tilton and two each from Taipale, junior second baseman Natalie Wright and sophomore right fielder Sammi Sadler. Wright doubled once as did Taipale, who threw the first four innings and gave up six hits and one run before giving way rookie Breanna Swint. Swint was relieved by junior Valerie Hohol with two outs in the top of the seventh inning after surrendering five hits and three runs. Vohol retired the one batter she faced top pikc up the win and move to perfect 7-0 on the season.

In the rematch, Minot State would used a six-run fifth inning to put the Bulldogs away. The collected 11 hits for the second straight game with two of those being home runs. UMD entered its last at bats down 9-0 and rallied for six runs before the Beavers got the hot-hitting Tilton (she went 6-for-12 with nine RBIs in four games on the weekend and had belted a two-run homer earlier that inning) to pop out to right field with the tying run at the plate. Junior shortstop Becky Smith had three of the Bulldogs' eight hits and Wright drove in a pair of runs. Hohol took the loss, going the first 4 1/3 innings and surrendering five runs and seven hits in the process.

The Bulldogs will make its 2017 NSIC road debut this Tuesday (April 4) with two bouts at Minnesota State University-Moorhead (7-16 overall; 2-4 NSIC).