The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team started the season off right with a pair of wins as they defeated Concordia St. Paul 2-1 and Northwestern Missouri State 9-2 on Friday night in Mankato, Minn. Their wins move them to 2-0 overall on the season.
"Our team came out and got two great wins today to start the season, " said Head Coach
Lynn Anderson. " I saw a lot of positives across the board with pitching, defense and offense. It was great seeing our bats come more alive in game two and we'll look to continue that in game one tomorrow."
On the day, Junior
Kiana Bender led the Bulldogs with three hits, four RBIs, and a home run while fellow Junior
Julia Gronholz tallied three RBIs and two hits.
Lauren Dixon and
Mady Stariha both collected a win for UMD from the mound, Dixon finished the night with 10 strikeouts.
Game One: 2-1 Victory over Concordia St. Paul
After a three up three down inning from the Bulldogs both defensively and offensively, the Golden Bears were the first to strike. The Bears scored their only run unearned due to a UMD fielding error. The Bulldogs were unable to answer with a run of their own, but Dixon would strand the Golden Bears on base with two strikeouts.
Nicole Schmitt would do her best to rally the Bulldogs in the top of the fourth with a single to right field, but would come up short of a run.
Sidney Zavoral would also attempt to get the Bulldogs bats moving after a double to right field, but would once again come up short of the run. Dixon, however, was up to the task of holding off the Golden Bears. She would go on to gain two consecutive strikeouts and secure a ground out to third base to keep Concordia from extending their lead.
In the top of the seventh, Schmitt's lead off single got the Bulldog offense rolling. Following Schmitt's single
Kat Burkhardt singled up the middle putting runners in scoring position.
Elle Potts laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance two runners into scoring position with two outs.
Dea Deleon would finally become the Bulldog hero as she singled up the middle, advancing on the throw, scoring Schmitt and Burkhardt. Dixon would once again come up strong at the mound for the Bulldogs, securing a grounder and fly ball to the infield, and finally clinched her final strikeout to end game one 2-1.
Game Two: 9-2 Victory over Northwestern Missouri St.
The Bulldogs took off early in the first inning with a
Kiana Bender single to center field and a stolen base giving UMD a runner in scoring position. Burkhardt would be the first to send one to the fences this season with a two run homer to center field giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
UMD would maintain their lead with a strong defensive showing from senior pitcher
Mady Stariha and the Bulldog infield. The Bearcats would score their first run of the ball game in the third inning. UMD's bats died down in the bottom of the third going three for three in strikeouts, which allowed the Bearcats to utilize the momentum and put another run on the board, making it a tie game at two a piece.
Schmitt, Jenkins, and Gronholz would get the Bulldogs started in the fourth. Gronholz singled up the middle scoring Schmitt and Jenkins giving UMD a 4-2 lead. Deleon would then walk, keeping two runners on base. After a wild pitch by the Bearcats, the Bulldogs had two runners in scoring position. Bender then crushed a three run home run to right field, putting the Bulldogs up by five.
The Bulldogs go on to score two more runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to Bender and Gronholz who finished the game with four and three RBIs apiece.
Mady Stariha is credited with the win and moves to 1-0 on the season.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will play another set of games tomorrow morning/afternoon in Mankato. UMD will face Lewis University at 11:30 AM and Missouri Western State at 4:30 PM.
