The University of Minnesota Duluth salvaged a split against No. 18 Minnesota State University-Mankato after a losing the first game 4-0 and winning the rematch 8-5 on Strike Out Cancer Day at Junction Avenue Field.
The Bulldogs are now 5-1 on the year against nationally ranked opponents.  

UMD faced a tough match-up in MSU pitcher Coley Ries. Ries,  who leads the NSIC in virtually every pitching category, held the Bulldogs to two hits while striking out 14 batters. The lone hits came off the bat of freshman third baseman Lauren Oberle in the form of a single in the fourth and a triple in the seventh - her first triple of the season. The Bulldogs then made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but were unable to bring anyone around. 

UMD wasted no time getting on the board in the rematch, taking a 1-0 lead in the first as junior center fielder Hannah Schmoll crossed the plate on after a fielding error by the shortstop. Three straight singles by junior shortstop Becky Smith, Oberle, and sophomore right fielder Sammi Sadler in the bottom of the third got things started for what would become a five hit, six run inning. Junior second baseman Natalie Wright would highlight that inning with a bases-clearing triple. After notching a run in the fourth, the Mavericks picked up four more in the fifth on four hits to close the gap to 7-5. A single from Smith would add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach. Smith would finish the game 3-for-4 at the plate with a RBI and a run. 
 
"This is an incredibly resilient team," head coach Jen Walter said. "Even in the first game, we had the tying run at the plate [in the seventh]. They don't quit, and that's what's really fun about this team is that they don't quit, they play to the last out, and we always have a chance."

The Bulldogs will next see action on Wednesday (Apr. 12) against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.