Maryville, MO - UMD senior Jordyn Thomas became Minnesota Duluth's all-time leader in home runs on Monday after she notched her 45th career homer against Northwest Missouri in game two. The home run capped off a perfect day for the Bulldogs. UMD won game one over Central Missouri 9-5, before securing a 7-1 win in game two over Northwest Missouri. The pair of wins gives Minnesota Duluth an 8-1 overall record on the season. 

Minnesota Duluth pitcher Mady Stariha picked up her first win of the season in game one after she went 2.1 innings in relief. In game two, Lauren Dixon recorded her second win of the year after she went seven strong innings, giving up just one hit and one earned run. On offense, Kiana Bender, Jordyn Thomas, and Julia Gronholz all posted home runs on the day. Additionally, Bender tallied a three-hit, five-RBI effort in game one. 

Game One: 9-5 Win over Central Missouri 
After dropping an 8-0 decision to the Bulldogs on Sunday, the Jennies came out hot in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs to take a 2-0 lead to the second inning. UMD would quickly answer with two runs of their own in the top of the second. A single from Burkhardt and a double from Gronholz would give UMD runners on second and third. During the next at-bat, Bender slashed a two-RBI single into right field to score both runners and tie the game at 2-2. Neither team would plate a run through the third and the Jennies would retake the lead in the bottom of the fourth.

After failing to score in both the top of the fifth and sixth innings, UMD would fall behind 4-2 after Central Missouri plated a run in the sixth. The Bulldogs headed to the top of the seventh trailing 4-2. The run started with an RBI single from Zavoral to draw the Bulldogs to within one. A few batters later and following a pitching change, UMD had the tying run on third. An RBI flyout from Burkhardt would score Kaytlynne Schulte to tie the game at 4-4. With runners still on base, Gronholz would connect on an RBI double to plate two more runs and extend the UMD advantage to 6-4. The Bulldogs weren't done just yet. With two runners still on base, Bender stepped in and delivered a three-run homer to cap off a seven-run inning and give Minnesota Duluth a 9-4 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh. Central Missouri would add one run in the seventh, but it wouldn't be enough, UMD took a 9-5 win in game one. 

Game Two: 7-1 Win over Northwest Missouri
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead against the Bearcats in game two, thanks to a single from Zavoral and then an RBI fly out from Elle Potts. After UMD failed to score in the top of the next inning, the Bearcats plated a run in the bottom of the second to tie the game at one. The Bulldogs would take control in the third. Zavoral would reach about doubling to right center. A few batters later, Burkhardt would slap an RBI single up the middle to score Zavoral and give UMD the lead. During the next at-bat, Kelly Swank would also single up the middle to easily score Burkhardt and extend UMD's lead to 3-1 through three innings of play. 

In the top of the fifth, a three-run home run to center field from Julia Gronholz would blow the game open and give Minnesota Duluth a 6-1 advantage. Thomas would put a bow on the game for UMD in the sixth. With the bases empty, Thomas notched a massive solo home run to right center field. The homer is the 45th of her career and makes her the new program leader for home runs in a career.
 

The homer capped off a 7-1 win for the Bulldogs in game two. 

Up Next
The Bulldogs will have next weekend off before returning to action on March 4 in Jan Phyl Village, FL.