Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The University of Minnesota Duluth softball squad finished off a six-game weekend with a 9-0 win over Lake Erie College on Sunday evening in Winter Haven, FL. Paired with their 6-3 loss to Southern New Hampshire earlier on Sunday, the Bulldogs earned a split on the afternoon. UMD now sits at 13-2 overall on the season.

On offense for UMD, both Kiana Bender and Emma Frost notched two home runs each. Additionally, the pair would tally back-to-back homers twice on Sunday. Over the two games, Bender would lead UMD with three-RBI's. In game two, freshman Cora Meier would chip in a two-RBI triple, while senior Jordyn Thomas posted her 47th career home run. On the mound, Sam Pederson went seven strong innings in game one and picked up the loss, despite striking out seven batters. 

Game One: 6-3 loss to Southern New Hampshire
Southern New Hampshire jumped out to a 6-0 lead after tallying two runs in the top of the first and four in the top of the third. However, the Bulldogs would respond. In the bottom of the third, Bender's bomb over the right field fence would get UMD on the board. Immediately following Bender's homer, Frost stepped into the box and labeled a home run to left field, give UMD back-to-back homers and cutting the lead to 6-2. Strong pitching would keep both teams off the board through the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Down by four runs in the bottom of the seventh, Makenna Burslie would pinch hit for Dea Deleon. The substitution was a good one for UMD as Burslie would slap a single into left field to give Minnesota Duluth a leadoff hit. Following a stolen base and a wild pitch, Burslie would find herself of third base. Bender would notch an RBI flyout to score Burslie from third and make it a 6-3 game. However, the Bulldogs would fail to tie the game and would fall 6-3 in game one. The loss on Sunday was just their second of the season.

Game Two: 9-0 victory over Lake Erie College
Despite dropping game one, UMD was determined to bounce back in game two. In the top of the first, senior Jordyn Thomas launched her 47th career home run over the center field fence to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the third, Bender would notch her second homer of the day to extend UMD's lead to 2-0. For the second time on the day, the Bulldogs would go back-to-back. During the very next at-bat, Frost tallied a home run of her own, making it 3-0 in favor of UMD in the top of the third. UMD held a 3-0 advantage midway through the contest, but weren't done just yet. 

In the top of the fourth, freshman Cora Meier poked a two-RBI triple down the first baseline to score two Bulldogs and make it a 5-0 lead for Minnesota Duluth. UMD would add four more runs, including a two-RBI single from Elle Potts in seventh to help the Bulldogs to a 9-0 victory in game two. 

Up Next
The Bulldogs will enjoy a rest day on Monday before returning to action on Tuesday, March 8, for a pair of games against the University of Tampa. Game times are set for 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM down in Florida.