The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team returned to Malosky Stadium today after a nearly month-long roadtrip. The Bulldogs came out flying in the first game, winning 13-2, and won the second game 8-0. UMD would get 21 runs -- including four home runs -- on 23 hits over the course of the two games. Each game ended in five innings.

Game 1:
The Bulldog bats would fly in the first game, getting three home runs -- including one grand slam -- en route to the victory.

Kiana Bender would get on the scoresheet first for the Bulldogs, scoring in the first inning thanks to an RBI single to right center from Jessica Bren. Emma Frost would get the Bulldogs' first home run of the day, a two run homer to right center field that also sent Bren past home. Lauren Oberle would also pick up a hit in the inning.

After a single to right field from Julia Gronholz to start off the second inning, Jordyn Thomas would get a grand slam to push UMD's lead to 7-0, with Kiana Bender, Lauren Oberle, and Julia Gronholz all scoring on the play.

Gronholz and Swank would each get a hit in the third. Pitcher Sam Pederson would throw three hitless innings before Upper Iowa would get on the board with a home run in the fourth inning. However, the Peacocks would not be able to deter UMD, and the fourth inning would seal the deal for the Bulldogs: Lauren Oberle scored after Jessica Bren flied out to right field, Kiana Bender would add an unearned run, and Kaytlynne Schulte would get a run as well after pinch running for Jordyn Thomas. Kelly Swank would close out the inning with a three-run homerun and send Taylor Koehnen and Dea DeLeon (pinch running for Emma Frost) past home with her.

Upper Iowa would get one more on the board in the fifth but the game would finish in five innings with a final score of 13-2. 

Game 2:
A big sixth inning would propel UMD to victory in the second game of the doubleheader. Kiana Bender and Jordyn Thomas would score a pair of unearned runs in the first inning before Bender would add another hit in the second. 

Kat Burkhardt would push the score to 3-0 in favor of the Bulldogs in the third inning, passing home after Julia Gronholz singled to right center. Jessica Bren, Julia Gronholz, and Elle Potts -- along with Burkhardt -- would all add hits for UMD in the third. Lauren Oberle would push the score to 4-0 in the fourth inning after Jordyn Thomas singled through the right side.

After a quiet fifth inning, Kelly Swank would set the tone for the sixth inning, sending the ball flying for a solo homerun. Lauren Oberle and Jordyn Thomas would pick up two more unearned runs before Julia Gronholz singled to the left side to send Jessica Bren past home to seal in the win -- 8-0 in five innings. Pitcher Lauren Dixon would hold the Peacocks to only six hits in six innings to pick up the win.

The Bulldogs will return to Malosky Stadium tomorrow morning for a doubleheader against Winona State. First pitch is at 10:00am. For the full season schedule, click here.