The University of Minnesota Duluth gave No. 7 Winona State University its strongest Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference test to date as the Warriors needed everything in the tank to outlast the Bulldogs Friday at Maynard R. Johnson Field in Winona, Minn. UMD (24-17; 15-7 NSIC) came close twice but ended up getting walked off in both games. Winona State (37-5 overall; 22-0 NSIC) came back to win the frontend 6-5 and squeaked out a 3-2 win in 10 innings.

The Bulldogs, who was ranked seventh in the NCAA Central Regional Rankings, got the taste of postseason play with the Warriors, who were slotted third in the same rankings. Winona State kept their program-record winning streak (22) intact as it overcame a 5-0 deficit in game one.

Sophomore shortstop Lauren Oberle started the day off with a two-run homer – her team-leading ninth – to give UMD a 2-0 lead. UMD would strike three more times in the fifth. Junior catcher Hannah Bloch took starting pitcher Jordyn Kleman deep on the first pitch to lead off the frame. Sophomore first baseman Jordyn Thomas and senior outfielder Kalynn Tilton add RBIs but that lead wouldn't hold against the Warriors. Winona State cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth and scored four times in the seventh. UMD tried its best to hold off the Warriors, even gunning down a runner at home as senior outfielder Sammi Sadler started the relay throw home to preserve the Bulldog lead. In the end, Alexis Kelsey drove in the final two runs with two outs to steal the victory.

UMD and Winona State engaged in a pitcher's duel in the rematch. The Bulldogs were held to just four hits but garnered seven walks. Meanwhile, junior pitcher Breanna Swint tossed one of her better games this season going toe-to-toe with the NSIC's best unit. Swint allowed just two runs in the first 9.2 innings before the Warriors finally scored in the bottom of the tenth. Swint threw a career-high 172 pitches and struck out four. The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead only to watch Winona State take the lead in the third. UMD posed a serious threat in the fourth as Bloch tied the game with a bases loaded walk but the Bulldogs couldn't score the rest of the way. UMD had chances but left nine runners on base.
 
The Bulldogs hit the diamond again immediately tomorrow afternoon with a twinbill against Upper Iowa University. First pitch from Fayette, Iowa will begin at 12:00 p.m.