After overcoming a 2-0 deficit to takedown Concordia University, St. Paul 5-2 earlier today in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament, the University of Minnesota Duluth suffered its first loss falling 5-1 to No. 5 Winona State University.
 
The Bulldogs (40-12) started the tournament with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2013. They need to run the table tomorrow with three straight victories to claim their first NSIC championship since 2002 and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Winona State (43-5) hit three home runs in the contest including a pair from NSIC Player of the Year Lani Van Zyl. Rylee Stout hit a two-run shot as well as the Warriors added four runs in the fourth to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Warriors' pitcher McKenna Larson gave up four hits and gave up her lone run in the seventh.
 
Junior pitcher Valerie Hohol toed the rubber to start the game. She struck out three batters but fell victim to the long ball and was pulled for sophomore Ashley Taipale with one out in the fourth. Taipale, the native of Duluth, Minn., fanned two in relief.
 
Freshman catcher Jessica Bren had a pair of singles, senior outfielder Hannah Schmoll extended her hitting streak with a base hit as well and Taipale banged home UMD's only run on a double in the left center gap.
 
The first-seed Warriors advance to the championship game while the Bulldogs head to an elimination game with either Southwest Minnesota State University or Augustana University. That game will take place tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. at Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, S.D.