The University of Minnesota Duluth erupted for a season-high 17 hits and took down Minnesota State University-Mankato 10-6 in the front end of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader, but then fell 17-4 to the Mavericks in a rain-shortened six-inning rematch Tuesday at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex in Superior, Wis. 

In the opener, the Bulldogs equaled a season-best for runs and scored five times in the fourth inning to take a 7-2 lead.  Sophomore second baseman Anders Brown led off the fourth with a solo homer to center field, his first of the year, and later in the frame, senior first baseman Tyler Wojciechowski belted a three-run blast over the left center field fence, driving in rookie right fielder Tim Pokornowski and sophomore center fielder Henry George. Wojciechowksi, who went 2-for-4 with four RBI, would strike again in the fifth when he hit a solo home run. UMD plated three runs in the fifth, getting RBI singles from Pokornowski and George to push the lead to 10-2. The Bulldogs received a strong outing from senior pitcher Nick Dorfman (1-1). After surrendering a first inning two-run home run, Dorfman settled down and wound up tossing 6.0 innings, striking out four, walking two, and giving up two runs on five hits. MSU made things interesting in the top of the seventh by scoring four runs off of sophomore relief pitcher Sean Flaherty, but rookie McCale Peterson then shut the door by fanning  the final Maverick batter to end the game.

Seven Bulldogs registered multiple hits:  Brown (4-for-4),  Pokornowski (2-for-3), Peterson (2-for-3), George (3-for-5), Wojciechowski (2-for-4), rookie designated hitter Tosten Mann (2-for-3) and senior third baseman Ben Danielson (2-for-4).

In Game 2, the Bulldogs (5-17 overall; 3-10 in the NSIC) answered with a four-run third inning after MSU-Mankato stormed out to a 6-0 advantage. George got the scoring started for UMD in the third inning with a double, scoring  Brown. Later in the inning, Mann doubled to right center, brining in Wojciechowski. A base hit from senior left fielder Cory Krolikowski would later score both Mann and third baseman Ben Danielson to cut the Maverick lead to two. MSU-Mankato (19-8; 10-5 NSIC) responded in the next inning, racking up nine runs to push their lead to 15-4. Rookie pitcher Aaron Wukmir (0-3), in his third starting assignment of the 2019 campaign, was touched up for six runs on six hits in 2.2 innings of work while fanning three and allowing five walks. The Bulldogs used four pitchers in the setback, including senior Jeremy Thorson, rookie Zach Matthews, and senior Evan Vick.

The Bulldogs will square off with NSIC rival Winona State University in a Saturday  doubleheader (April 6) beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minn.

HIGHLIGHTS: