Earlier today the University of Minnesota Duluth softball team wrapped up its four game midweek series from Minot, ND with a double-header against Minot State. UMD took both games of the double-header by a score of 10-1 in game one and 8-0 in game two. UMD improves to 10-4 on the year and Minot State falls to 7-7 on the season.
 
In game one, after the Bulldogs and Beavers both went quietly in the first two innings at the plate, Minot State would get on the board first via an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning. The Bulldogs would limit the damage to just one run. After UMD went quietly in the top of the fourth, the Beavers would threaten again this time by loading the bases with two outs, it looked as if the Beavers would capitalize but Bulldog junior pitcher Sam Pederson had other ideas as she recorded a huge strikeout to shut the door and keep the score 1-0.  Immediately following in the top of the 5^th inning the UMD bats would come alive. The Bulldogs would post a five spot on the Beavers courtesy of Freshman Kate Mohr's solo home run over the right field fence, a Jordyn Thomas two RBI single to right field and an Emma Frost two RBI single to center field. Pederson would take the five lead cushion and cruise through the rest of the game. Pederson would pitch all seven innings giving up only six hits, one unearned run, surrendered two walks and struck out four. Pederson would be the pitcher of record picking up her fourth win, her record now sits at 4-1 on the season. UMD would add insurance runs in the sixth inning and the seventh as they stretched their lead to nine before the end of game one.
 
UMD Game 1 Notables:
 Frost 2-3, 2 RBI
Bender 2-3, R, HR, 2 RBI
Thomas 2-3, 2 RBI
 Mohr 2-3, 3R, 2 HR, 2RBI
 Pederson 7IP, 6H, 2BB, 4K's
 
Game two would take on a different tone as the Bulldogs continued their hot hitting from the previous game and jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a Kiana Bender round-tripper to right field scoring Lauren Oberle, and a Taylor Koehnen RBI single to center scoring senior Jordyn Thomas. Sophomore Mady Stariha was dealing for UMD in game two. Stariha pitched all five innings giving up just two hits and striking out two. Stariha sat the Beavers down six in a row between the third and fourth innings. UMD would extend its lead in the bottom of the fourth without getting a hit to push in a run. A Lauren Oberle walk pushed across a run, Kiana Bender would be hit by a pitch to push the fifth UMD run across the plate, Jordyn Thomas' plate discipline would pay off as she would walk as well, and lastly a Jessica Bren sacrifice fly would end the scoring in the fourth inning with UMD on top 7-0. UMD would add its eighth run in the bottom of the fifth off of a Lauren Oberle RBI double ending the game on a mercy rule basis 8-0. Stariha would be the pitcher of record for UMD in game two she improves to 2-1 on the season.

UMD Game 2 Notables:
Oberle 1-2, 2R, 2RBI
Bender 1-2, R, HR, 3RBI
Thomas 2-2 R, RBI
Koehnen 2-3 RBI

UMD will have a bit of a break before heading to St. Cloud, Minn. to take on St. Cloud State on Mar. 30^th for a midweek double-header as NSIC conference play gets underway.