Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 No, it wasn't the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots out on the turf at U.S. Bank Stadium for a pair of Thursday night double headers. In fact, it was two respectable teams in their own regard that took over the site of what played home to one of the biggest sporting events in the world nearly a month ago and reshaped it into the design of America's pastime. Yes, folks, the University of Minnesota Duluth baseball season has arrived and is already in high gear.
The Bulldogs rolled to a 2-0 start after sweeping the Bemidji State University Beavers (0-2) Thursday evening in a nonconference twinbill, 13-0 in the first game and 4-2 in the rematch.
UMD wasted no time swinging the bat and driving in runs as a two-hit, two-run first inning gave the team enough run support for the remainder of the game. It was hard to tell at times who was trying to make it easiest for one another as senior pitcher Marcus
Frederickson provided all the comfort in the world for the Bulldogs offense to explode for 13 runs on 14 hits.
Frederickson worked the mound five strong innings, with a strikeout per inning to match it. The southpaw allowed no runs, no walks, and a mere two hits in the Bulldogs' 2018 opener.
UMD's hitters slapped the ball all around the field, as eight different batters collected at least one hit. A six-run fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run inside the park homer of the bat of sophomore center fielder
Drew Stewart, gave the Bulldogs as big of a cushion as they could get to put the team up 8-0, until they added 5 more throughout the remainder of the game. Freshman left fielder
Henry George made quite the impression in his debut in a Bulldogs' uniform, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and RBI. George also accounted for three of the five stolen bases UMD garnered on the night – all three coming in the rematch – as the team went a perfect 5-for-5 in attempts.
In the rematch, the Beavers jumped on the board first after back-to-back singles knocked in a runner, in the third. That lead lasted about as long as it took for senior designated player – and captain –
Tyler Midas's three-run homerun to reach the wall in right field. The homerun put UMD up 4-1 in the fifth (the team added one in the fourth) and put the game away at the team worked its first 2-0 start to a season since 2015. The prior two seasons saw losses come at the hands of Pittsburg State University in both home openers. Senior
Jalen Busker toed the rubber for five solid innings of work with four strikeouts and just one walk and an unearned run to show for it. Junior
Adam Hallberg and senior Colin Baumbard each provided an inning of relief to help cap off the teams second win. Baumgard struck out two in a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
The Bulldogs outhit the Beavers 14-4 in the first game, and 22-8 in both contests.
UMD will head south for the Russmatt Central Florida Invite on Saturday, March 3. The Bulldogs will play five games over the course of five days against five difference opponents. The first of those opponents will be Norte Dame College on Sunday, March 4 at 9 a.m. (CT).
