The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team traveled to Mankato, Minn. today to take on Minnesota State-Mankato in two NSIC mid-week games. The Bulldogs dropped game one 10-0 and fell in game two 11-8 in a back and forth shootout. The Bulldogs now sit at 3-5 (1-4) in the NSIC.

In game one it was Alex Watterman who got the start on the mound for the Bulldogs, his first of the season. After the Bulldogs stranded runners on base in the first inning. Minnesota State would get on the board early as they tacked on two runs in the first inning courtesy of a two run home run. Both pitchers would settle in after the first as both the Bulldogs and Mavericks wouldn't be able to muster much offense in innings two through four. In the top of the fifth UMD would again leave two men on in their half of the inning and would allow Minnesota State to capitalize on their opportunities. The Mavericks would add four runs in the bottom half of the fifth and that would mark the end of the line for Wattermann on the mound as Paul Petit would come on in relief. Wattermann would be charged with the loss his first of the season. Besides threatening in the first and fourth innings the Bulldog bats were quiet the rest of the way. The Mavericks would add four more runs in the bottom half of the sixth as they put game one on ice.

Game 1 Notables:
George: 2-3
Gustafson: 1-3
Paulson: 1-3
Pokornowski: 2-2
Wattermann: 4.1IP, 6H, 4ER, 4K's
Petit: 0.2IP, 1H, 2ER, BB. K
Brown, H.: 0.1IP, 2R, 1ER, BB, K
Matthews: 0.2IP, 2ER,

In game two Aaron Wukmir got the start for UMD, his first of the season as well. Henry George would start game two with a leadoff double but would be stranded at third to end the top half of the first inning. Wukmir would struggle in the bottom half of the first surrendering five runs to Minnesota State. UMD would answer in the second inning. A misjudged ball on what should have been a routine out off the bat of Jack Puder got the Bulldogs first run on the board, Tim Pokornowski who had himself a day at the plate in game two would knock the Bulldogs second run on a sacrifice fly to center field, and a Henry George triple would bring the third UMD run of the inning in to score. Wukmir would settle in following the first inning pitch two scoreless innings heading into the fourth. In the top of the fourth an Anders Brown bunt single and Jack Puder single would bring up the aforementioned Pokornowski who would deliver a towering drive over the fence in right center field to bring the Bulldogs ahead 6-5 in the top half of the fourth. The Mavericks however, would answer with four of their own in the bottom of the inning knocking Wukmir out of the game. Eric Hinnenkamp would come on in relief for the UMD. The Bulldogs would get runs in the seventh and eighth innings but wouldn't be able to catch the Mavericks. Wukmir would be charged with the loss for UMD his first of the season. Brendan Knoll would record his first win of the season for the Mavericks and Hunter Even would pick up his first save of the year.

Game 2 Notables:
George: 3-4, R, RBI, BB, 2B, 3B
Wattermann: 1-1, RBI, 2B 
Brown, A.: 2-5, 2R
Puder: 1-4, 2R, RBI
Pokornowski: 1-2, R, 4RBI, BB, HR
Wukmir: 3.1IP, 9H, 10ER, 2BB, 2K's
Hinnenkamp: 3.2 IP, 4H, 1ER, 3BB, 2K's
Thiel: 1.0IP, 1H

Next up for the Bulldogs is yet another road trip  as they travel to Winona, Minn. to take on the Winona State Warriors. Game one Saturday is scheduled for 1:30 PM with game two slated to start at 3:30 PM.