The University of Minnesota Duluth continued its torrid pace at the plate as they swept the afternoon double header against Missouri Western State University. The Bulldogs came back from a 7-0 second-inning deficit to pull out a 22-12 victory in the opener. The Griffons slowed down the offense slightly but lost the backend 14-5.
 
UMD advanced to 4-0 on the season for the first time since the 2004. Missouri Western is 2-4 and have lost the last three to the Bulldogs.
 
The 22 runs were the most since UMD put up a 25-spot on Marian College on March 4, 2006. The combined 34 runs during the front end of the double dip were the most in program history since UMD and Upper Iowa University tabbed 39 runs back in April 15, 2007.
 
The Bulldogs launched seven home runs as they ended with 40 hits. 11 players garnered a hit today as the team hit .488. The 56 runs in the first four games is to believed to be a program record. Last year, it took 17 games to reach at least 56 runs.
 
Sophomore pitcher Ashley Taipale didn't get much support in her first start of the season. Taipale was pulled midway through the second after surrendering seven runs but only two earned after the UMD defense made two mistakes in the field.
 
The offense gave support later though. All 22 runs came in the last five innings. UMD hit four dingers in the game starting with senior shortstop Becky Smith in the fourth. Freshman catcher Jessica Bren rocketed her first collegiate home run, a three-run blast to tie it at 10. Smith homered in the fifth to take the lead and junior first baseman Kalynn Tilton looped a grand slam in the seventh to put the cherry on top.
 
Sophomore pitcher Breanna Swint recorded the victory giving up five runs, only three earned, on six hits while fanning one.
 
Bren got UMD rolling early in the second with her second home run. Junior right fielder Sammi Sadler ripped a run in and senior center fielder Hannah Schmoll lined a two-RBI single to center to lead 4-0. Freshman Taylor Koehnen's first collegiate hit scored a run as well.
 
With an 8-2 lead, the Griffons hit three solo home runs to slice the lead to three. Smith killed the rally in the top of fifth with her third home run of the day. Smith added two more RBI to her name in the seventh, sophomore third baseman Lauren Oberle slapped in another and Tilton capped off the four-run seven with a two-run homer sneaking around the left field foul pole.
 
Junior hurler Valerie Hohol picked up her second win as she went the distance in the circle.
 
For the day, Tilton had six hits including a pair of home runs and a team-high 10 RBI. The Eden Prairie, Minn., native was the first to hit a grand slam for the Bulldogs since Ashley Schilling at Winona State on April 3, 2016. Tilton also had six RBI in the first game. She was also the last player to register six RBI back on April 1, 2017 against the Univeristy of Mary.
 
Smith finished 7-for-10 with a double, three home runs and a team leading eight runs. Schmoll added six hits and extended her hitting streak up to 17 games dating to last season.
 
The Bulldogs have four more games in St. Joseph, Mo. Northwest Missouri State University will take on UMD in a neutral site double header on Saturday, Feb. 17. Game time of the first game will start at 2:00 p.m.