The Bulldogs softball team opened NSIC play with a double-header on Tuesday afternoon at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. The Huskies used 5-2 and 8-4 victories to defeat UMD in the two game series.
Across both games on Tuesday,
Sidney Zavoral,
Kiana Bender,
Jordyn Thomas and
Julia Gronholz each tallied two hits each for the Bulldogs. With two RBI's in game two, Bender now leads the Bulldogs with 22 RBIs in 23 games this season. Additionally,
Kelly Swank,
Dea Deleon,
Kat Burkhardt and Gronholz all posted an RBI each on the day.
On the mound,
Lauren Dixon picked up the loss in game one after going 4.2 innings and giving up four runs. With eight strikeouts in game one, Dixon leads the pitching staff in punch outs with 77 on the year.
Christin Hartman would note two innings of work in relief in game one. In the second game of the double-header,
Sam Pederson and
Mady Stariha each took the mound for the Bulldogs in the loss.
In game one, the Huskies struck first in the top of the third. However, UMD responded quickly in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI sac fly from Burkhardt to tie the game at 1-1. Four runs from St. Cloud in the top of the fifth and sixth innings would create an uphill climb for UMD. Trailing 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldogs attempted to mount another late comeback. With two runners on base, Gronholz picked up an RBI after an error to the Huskies third baseman, allowing Thomas to score. The run cut the Huskies lead to 5-2, but it was little too late for the Bulldogs in game one. After taking game one, St. Cloud came out firing in game two. Seven runs from the Huskies in the top of the first took the wind out of UMD's sail. After making it a 7-2 game in the bottom of the second, a triple to from Bender would score Gronholz to quickly make it a 7-3 game. Trying to claw back into the game in the sixth, Bender would note another RBI after using a sac fly to score Gronholz again. However, UMD would be unable to draw any closer. St. Cloud would take game two 8-4 and swept the series from the Bulldogs.
Up Next
UMD will be back in action on Saturday, April 2, for a pair of games against the University of Mary. The double-header is set for 1 & 3 PM in Duluth, Minn.
