Caitlin VanVleck popped a 0-1 pitch to shallow left and junior outfielder Sammi Sadler roamed over and corralled the final out to send the University of Minnesota Duluth to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history with a 9-1 triumph over Emporia State University in six innings.

The No. 25 Bulldogs launched four home runs in the contest as they improved to 44-14 on the season and earned the NCAA Central Region 1 title in Winona, Minn. The Hornets (30-31) had their Cinderella-story season come to a close after falling twice in the championship round.

UMD, who was coming off a 4-3 victory the day before to force the winner-take-all, got the majority of its run production from long balls. Freshman designated player Jordyn Thomas had a pair of homers in the contest including depositing a three-run homer in the top of the first to set the tone. The Hermantown, Minn., native crushed the 0-1 pitch almost over the second set of fencing as it went nearly 270 feet.

Thomas would add another on to cap off a four-run third inning in which the Bulldogs went deep three times including back-to-back jacks by seniors Hannah Schmoll and Natalie Wright. Today marked the seventh time this season UMD send out at least three homers in a game.

The Hornets had cut the lead to 3-1 on a solo home run by Danielle Sprinkle but sophomore hurler Breanna Swint and her defense paved the way to the Bulldogs' ninth NCAA postseason victory (one short of doubling their collective postseason win total). Swint's only mistake of the afternoon was the solo shot as she whipped up a complete-game seven-hitter for her 21st win.

UMD sought the opportunity to take advantage of costly base running blunders by Emporia State. The Hornets were doubled up in the fourth after Wright nabbed a soft liner and got the runner sliding back to first. Later in the inning, Emporia State was thrown out at third overrunning the bag as sophomore third baseman Lauren Oberle applied the tag after receiving a missile from Sadler. Finally, the Hornets killed their last threat in the fifth after leaving the bag early on a flyout to sophomore outfielder Lauren Greeder.

Schmoll continued her dominance at the plate as went racked up four hits in all four plate appearances. The Grand Rapids, Minn., native went 10-for-18 in the regional tournament and upped her season batting average to .472. Thomas had a game-high five RBI to bring her season total to 48. Sophomore Lexi Janigo came off the bench and ripped a pinch-hit base hit to left.

The Bulldogs will play No. 8 Southern Arkansas University in a best-of-three series to determine the central region representative in the NCAA Championships. Dates and times have yet to be determined.