The University of Minnesota Duluth softball program continued their opening weekend of the 2021 season today, taking Minnesota State-Mankato in their first game of the day, winning 5-2, and dropping a tight second game 4-3.

The first game of the day got off to a slow start for the Bulldogs, who were held scoreless until the top of the sixth inning. The Bulldogs broke the game open with a 2-run homerun from Lauren Oberle to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead, which they would hold into the seventh inning.

The Bulldogs would see its freshmen shine in the seventh to clench its second win of the season. Freshman Kaytlynn Schulte continued the scoring for the Bulldogs in the top of the seventh thanks to an RBI single from freshman Julia Gronholz. An RBI double from freshman Kiana Bender allowed freshmen Kelly Swank and Gronholz to score, bringing the score to 5-1. 

Despite a comeback attempt from the Mavericks that would see them score once more in the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs were able to hold on for the win over Minnesota State-Mankato squad.

The Bulldogs were able to carry this momentum into their second game, with Lauren Oberle scoring off of an RBI double from senior Jordyn Thomas at the top of the first. The Mavericks would respond in kind later in the inning, tying the game at one apiece until the Bulldogs were able to break away in the top of the fourth inning. Bender and freshman Paige Meyer both crossed home off an RBI double from freshman Kat Burkhardt, bringing the score to 3-1. 

A homer from the Mavericks would make it 3-2 in the fifth inning. This score would hold until the bottom of the seventh, when Minnesota State-Mankato would score twice in quick succession to end the game, 4-3. 

The Bulldogs will see about a month off before its next game, when it travels to Mary for a doubleheader on March 17th. See the full season schedule here.