Head coach Jen Walter picked up career victory No. 600 on Saturday in the Sunshine State as the University of Minnesota Duluth took one of two on its opening day. Walter and the Bulldogs cashed in on win No. 600 in the opening game, a 6-2 victory over Truman State University, before Grand Valley State University bested UMD 4-1 in game two.

The Bulldogs had won their last four outings and four of the last five games in Florida prior to the setback. 

Walter, who is in her fifth season, previously amassed 447 victories at St. Scholastica just up the road in 16 seasons. For Walter, capturing win No. 600 has been one of many milestones thus far. She has operated 30-plus win seasons each of the last five years and tallied win No. 500 at Malosky Stadium against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe St. Cloud State University in 2017. She became the fastest head coach in program history to amass 100 wins and has brought UMD to the national tournament three times including the program's first NCAA Super Regional appearance.

Fast forwarding to today, she closed in on her collegiate milestone after sophomore third baseman Emma Frost fielded the final out in the battle of the Bulldogs.

In the dog-meet-dog matchup Truman State struck first with a leadoff solo home run on the second pitch of the ball game. UMD retaliated in the bottom half with junior first baseman Jordyn Thomas looping a double between the center and right fielders scoring senior shortstop Lauren Oberle and senior outfielder Lauren Greeder. Oberle added to the lead in the top of fifth launching a moonshot -- her third rocket of the year -- deep to center extending the Bulldog lead to 5-1. Truman answered with another solo round-tripper, however, junior outfielder Jessica Bren notched her first long ball of the season in the sixth inning and senior Breanna Swint did the rest. Swint went the distance allowing only six baserunners picking up her second win. She fanned seven and sent down six of the last seven batters.

UMD (6-7) totalled 10 hits in the contest including seeing all nine batters gather a hit. Oberle had the lone two-hit outing. 

Grand Valley State found a way to lock down its 10th straight victory at the hands of UMD. The Lakers trailed 1-0 early on as Thomas smacked a solo home run to center in the second inning. Sophomore pitcher Sam Pederson got the nod in the circle and dazzled in the first three inning giving up just one lone base hit. But, Grand Valley State scratched across a run in the fourth and got locked in in the fifth inning adding three more. UMD threatened with runners on second and third and the tying run at the plate in the seventh but failed to bring them in. 

Oberle, once again, collected a pair of hits and senior catcher Hannah Bloch drew a pair of walks including a 14-pitch showdown against starting hurler Ashley Platek. Bloch also gunned down a would-be base stealers in each game. The Ames, Iowa native has thrown out 32 baserunners in her collegiate career.

The Bulldogs return to the Diamondplex in Winter Haven, Fla. tomorrow with assignments against Southern New Hampshire University and Wayne State University (MI).