Not a bad way to start the NCAA Tournament.
 
For only the second time on Thursday afternoon, No. 25 University of Minnesota Duluth won the first game of the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament after knocking off Arkansas Tech University 5-1 to open the 2018 tournament in Winona, Minn.
 
The fourth-seeded Bulldogs, which opened the 2011 regional tournament with a 3-1 triumph over the Colorado School of Mines, will now face eighth seed Emporia State University (29-29), which upset top-seeded and host Winona State University 3-1, for a second-round collision on Friday afternoon in the four-team double-elimination event.
 
The 5-1 victory is the first NCAA postseason win since 2012 when UMD defeated Fort Lewis College 4-1. The Bulldogs, who are making their eighth tournament appearance, are 6-14 all-time since joining the NCAA ranks in 1992.
 
With the victory, UMD improved to 41-13 overall and tied the 2013 Bulldogs for second-most wins in program history.
 
Junior pitcher Valerie Hohol was handed the ball to start and didn't disappoint as she pitched another gem in the circle. Hohol (18-7) gave up seven hits and allowed a single run in the seventh after a leadoff triple. The Woodbury, Minn., native didn't allow a hit with runners in scoring position as the Golden Suns went 0-for-6.
 
The Bulldogs were steady at the plate as they notched 10 hits and scored at least a run in the last four innings. UMD had five players with hits with freshman designated player Jordyn Thomas leading the charge with three hits. Thomas, who was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region second team this past Wednesday, was 3-for-3 with a walk and scored a run.
 
Senior outfielder Hannah Schmoll and freshman catcher Jessica Bren each posted a pair of hits. Senior shortstop Becky Smith had a hit and assisted in scoring the Bulldogs' first run of the afternoon getting caught in a partial rundown allowing Schmoll to slide in safely at home.   
 
Senior second baseman Natalie Wright launched her seventh home run of the season to put UMD up 5-0 in the sixth. Wright has three bombs in the last 10 games after hitting four in the first 44 games.
 
The Bulldogs play at 1:00 p.m. against the Hornets, who have won 14 of the last 15 games, at Maynard R. Johnson Field. The winner will advance to the regional championship. The loser will square off against the winner of Winona State and Arkansas Tech at 6:00 p.m. in a elimination game.