Five home runs, a trio of double plays turned and stellar pitching performances backstopped the University of Minnesota Duluth to victories today over the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Concordia College (N.Y.). The Bulldogs defeated the Tritons 3-0 then turned around immediately to blast the Clippers 8-0 in five innings.

The second consecutive sweep in the PFX Athletics Spring Games shoots UMD up to 11-3 overall and on a five-game winning streak after dropping its initial contest in Florida. Since 2013, the Bulldogs are 39-9 in THE Spring Games including having won eight of the last nine games in Clermont, Fla. 

Junior Valerie Hohol and sophomore Ashley Taipale turned in back-to-back shutouts and the third consecutive as a staff in as many outings. The 2013 Bulldogs was the last club to whip up three consecutive shutouts as they kept Minot State and Minnesota State University-Moorhead scoreless back on April 23-24, 2013. With Breanna Swint, the trio have allowed one run in the last 25 innings.

Hohol spun a gem in the circle, fanning seven Missouri-St.Louis batters in two-hit ball. The Tritons stranded their only runner at third in the third inning. Taipale was rock-solid again for the second straight day. She allowed only five base runners (three hits, a walk and a hit batter) while striking out two.  

Taipale got plenty of help in the field. Senior Becky Smith saved a hit early, going deep into the hole between third and short to throw out a Clipper. Later, Smith ranged to her far left to scoop up a ball to start a double play. Senior outfielder Hannah Schmoll crashed into the fence in straight-away center to rob a home run. Sophomore third baseman Lauren Oberle stabbed the sharp liner out of the air down the line and also went around the horn to record another double play.

The Bulldogs relinquished the power back in their bats. Freshman catcher/designated player Jessica Bren was one of four UMD players to clear the fences. Bren, the native of Chanhassen, Minn., went deep in both games. She gave UMD a 2-0 lead in the second against Missouri-St. Louis and pushed the lead up to 3-0 in the fourth over Concordia.

UMD hit four home runs against the Clippers, which tied a season high. Junior first baseman Kalynn Tilton homered to deep center in the second. Smith joined in on the fun launching her homer to center as well. Finally, Taipale joined in on the barrage. The Duluth, Minn., native was inserted into the lineup and ended the game herself on a two-run bomb, again, to center.

The 16 home runs this season is the most by any Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team so far this season. Bren leads all NSIC batters with six round-trippers. Smith is tied for second with five. Smith is first in the league with 19 RBI and Tilton is tied for sixth with 16.

The Bulldogs will have tomorrow off to enjoy the Florida weather before getting back to work on Wednesday, March 7. UMD will battle Mercyhurst University at 1:00 p.m. CST and Saint Anselm University at 6:00 p.m. CST. Both games are at the Legends Way complex.