The University of Minnesota Duluth proved why it's one of the top programs in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference on Thursday afternoon in the NSIC Tournament. With a convincing 7-1 victory, the Bulldogs overpowered St. Cloud State University in Sioux Falls S.D. in their tournament opener. 

Led by a stellar performance on the mound by senior ace Sam Hartmann, UMD (35-18; 18-10 NSIC) used a five-run first inning to propel itself over SCSU (31-22; 15-11 NSIC). With her start, Hartmann tied a program record for starts (93) set by Kristin Danielson (2007-10).

Junior shortstop Becky Smith got the party started in the bottom of the first, driving in junior center fielder Hannah Schmoll with a single up the middle. Back-to-back hit by pitches for sophomore first baseman Kalynn Tilton and freshman third baseman Lauren Oberle loaded the bases for sophomore right fielder Sammi Sadler. Sadler poked a single through the left side of the field, bringing home Smith. After an early pitching change, freshman designated player Ashley Taipale became the third victim of the inning to be hit by a pitch, putting the Bulldogs up 3-0. Sophomore catcher Hannah Bloch joined in by knocking in two runs on a 2-2 count.

Three straight hits to start the top of the second gave SCSU its only run of the game. In the first two innings, Hartmann (W, 13-9) allowed one run on five hits with two strikeouts. In the third, Hartmann settled down and throughout the remainder of the game allowed just two runners to reach base while striking out four. 

In the top of the fifth, Oberle made the Huskies pay for being hit by a pitch earlier in the game by clobbering a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for her 10th home run of the season thus far. In the following inning, Taipale exacted her revenge by hitting a solo shot to left field, as well. 

UMD advances to face top-seeded Minnesota State University-Mankato on Friday (May 5) at 12 p.m.