The University of Minnesota Duluth kicked off a six-game road stretch on Thursday afternoon against Winona State University, with the Warriors taking game one before UMD responded with a dominating game two victory.

WSU 7, UMD 3

It took just two batters for the Bulldogs to notch a run in the first inning -- junior outfielder Brett Milazzo led off the game with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then came across to score on an RBI single by senior catcher Marco Lucarelli. UMD would load the bases with nobody out, but freshman outfielder Drew Stewart grounded into a double play on the next batter, although another run would score on the play.

Winona State answered in the bottom half of the second inning, putting up five runs on five hits to take its first lead. Junior outfielder Joe Kubera lined a 2-RBI double to center field before freshman shortstop Treyton Larson drove in a pair of runs himself on a single through the right side.

UMD threatened in the fourth inning by loading up the bases, but a strikeout by senior pitcher Lucas Crimmins sent the Bulldogs back to the bench without a run.

Sophomore left-hander Ryan Cunningham started the game for UMD, completing three innings with six runs allowed. Freshman Travis Berg added a scoreless fourth inning in relief, before junior Jalen Busker sophomore Jeremy Thorson each added a scoreless inning of their own.

The Bulldogs tacked on one more run in the seventh inning on the first collegiate home run from senior shortstop Brian Pierce, but would ultimately fall to a 7-3 decision.

UMD 12, WSU 2

Once again, UMD was able to score in the opening inning, picking up a run and a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Tyler Wojciechowski who drove in senior outfielder Grant Farley on a hit to left field. Senior third baseman Kyle Hoffman came up with a clutch bases-clearing double to drive in three runs in the same inning, vaulting the Bulldogs to a 4-0 lead with just half of an inning in the books. Hoffman would add another RBI in the third inning when junior Tyler Midas scored on a sacrifice fly to left field, giving the visitors a 5-1 advantage.

Junior Colin Baumgard held the Warriors at check while starting on the mound, allowing just one earned run over 6.1 innings pitched.

UMD added four more runs on a two-out rally in the seventh inning, beginning with an RBI single by freshman shortstop Chase Thomas. Senior outfielder Matt Vogt drove in a pair of runs on single back up the middle to drive in a pair of Bulldog middle infielders in Pierce and Thomas. UMD added one more run with runners on first and third when Vogt stole second, allowing Milazzo to cross the plate to put the Bulldogs up 9-1.

The Bulldogs were right back at it on offense in the eighth, scoring three more runs off of singles by Hoffman and Pierce along with an error by Winona State to lead by 10.

Senior Kevin Stocke tossed 0.2 innings without surrendering a run before senior Colton Sinning closed the game out with a 1-2-3 bottom of the eight inning, striking out one in the process.

Pierce concluded the doubleheader with a 4-for-8 performance while driving in two runs. Sophomore Ben Danielson posted three hits in three tries in game two and Midas went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Hoffman posted five RBI while picking three hits in the win.

UP NEXT

UMD will head west for a four-game series against the University of Minnesota Crookston beginning on Saturday.