The University of Minnesota Duluth saw dominant pitching performances in back-to-back games lead it to a two-game sweep over Southwest Minnesota State University on Wednesday afternoon, capped off by a walk-off single by senior third baseman Kyle Hoffman to move to 12-12 (7-5 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) on the season. UMD has now picked up wins in four straight games and will look towards a home-series with Wayne State (Neb.) College this weekend.

"Two good wins for us," head coach Bob Rients said following the wins. "Credit to the guys for sticking with it in the second game, knowing that we had to scratch and claw a little bit, and always when you can win in the last at bat it gives you plenty of momentum heading into the next day and next set of games."

UMD 14, SMSU 1

The Bulldogs took control of the opener right from the get-go, scoring five runs in the first inning and continuing to pile on offensively to coast to a 14-1 win over the Mustangs.

Sophomore southpaw Ryan Cunningham posted six innings of work on the mound and moved to 3-1 on the season, striking out seven batters without allowing an earned run. Cunningham surrendered just four hits on the afternoon, before junior Nick Dorfman closed the door with a 1-2-3 seventh inning while striking out a pair.

Freshman outfielder Drew Stewart racked up three hits in four tries, including a 2-RBI single in the first inning and an RBI double in the sixth. Junior Tyler Midas also notched three hits and three RBI, scoring a pair of runs himself. Freshman infielder Chase Thomas, who finished the day 4-for-6, snagged two hits in game one and tallied three runs.

UMD held a 7-1 lead heading to the sixth inning then exploded for seven runs to put the game out of reach. Hoffman drove in two runs with a single through the left side of the infield to drive in senior catcher Marco Lucarelli and freshman Chris Saltzmann, before the Bulldogs added three more runs on a fielder's choice and error off the bat of junior outfielder Brett Milazzo.

UMD 2, SMSU 1

Offense proved tougher to come by in the rematch, as both teams notched just a run apiece in the first eight innings. The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the third inning on a single to center field by Stewart to grab the first lead of the game.

Southwest Minnesota State rallied to tie the game at one in the sixth inning with a sac fly -- the only run junior Colin Baumgard would allow in his 5.1 innings of work.

The UMD bullpen shut down the Mustangs the remainder of the way, starting with senior Kevin Stocke's 1.2 innings of scoreless work. Freshman Evan Vick and junior Colton Sinning (W, 2-0) combined to close out the final two innings with just one hit allowed.

The Bulldogs kicked off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single from senior outfielder Grant Farley, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Eric Yachinich. In stepped Wednesday's hero of Hoffman, who grounded a ball back up the middle to drive in Farley, handing UMD a 2-1 win and sweep in its home openers at Wade Stadium.

Thomas posted a 2-for-2 line at the plate in game two, while Farley also capture two hits of his own in four at bats. Five other Bulldogs picked up a hit, totaling nine in the game for UMD.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will return to Wade Stadium on Friday morning for the first of four games with Wayne State, beginning at 10:30 a.m.