Wayne, Neb.- The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team ended up splitting its score-happy Sunday doubleheader against Northern State put in Wayne, taking the first game 8-5 before losing the second 14-10. The effort leaves the Bulldogs' overall record at 11-13 on the year, its NSIC mark at 4-7. 

If we were living in a Sesame Street episode, Sunday's letter of the day would've been "H" for "homer." It didn't take long to find our first piece of supporting evidence: a two-run shot from Tim Pokornowski in the bottom of the first to open the scoring and put the Bulldogs on top. It was the fifth-year outfielder's second homer on the year. Next, it was Alex Wattermann's turn. The senior shortstop connected on a solo shot, also his second HR of the season, to extend the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second. And it turns out Pokornowski wasn't done yet- his third moonshot of 2023 was a solo effort in the bottom of the third, enough to bring the score to 4-0. 

Three innings, three dingers… why not extend the streak? And why not do it in style? In the bottom of the fourth, it was Tosten Mann who blasted out his inaugural homer of the year, a three-run shot that extended the Bulldogs' lead all the way to six at 7-1. 

Ultimately, this is where the home run fun would sizzle out for the Bulldogs… at least for this game. Instead, it was the Wolves' offense that really started to show signs of life- not with big bursts, but in a death by a thousand cuts kind of fashion.

Much of that work can be seen in the top of the fifth. There, NSU was able to score three separate runs off of three separate singles while putting a total of five players on base over the course of the inning. That suddenly left the Wolves within striking distance, the score 7-4.  And it didn't help matters when NSU was able to produce a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fifth frame to maintain that score 

The same couldn't be said for the sixth. After Alex Wattermann was able to sit down three-straight batters to send his team up to bat, Michael Gabbard was eventually able to bring home Gabe Richardson on a sac fly to double NSU's score at 8-4. The Wolves would threaten in the top of the seventh, even leading off with a solo homer from Austin Portner. But in a game with so much offensive firepower, it was a defensive effort that ended up officially sealing the deal. A huge double-play ball from the Bulldogs, one generated by Richardson, Ethan Cole, and Mann, put the finishing touches on an 8-5 victory for UMD.

Fueled by two homers, Pokornowski ended up being the star of the stat sheet from an offensive perspective in game one, going 2-3 with three RBIs and two runs of his own. At the mound, it was the combined work of five Bulldogs that ended up pushing UMD to victory, those being Brayden Buttweiler, Dylan Wilson, Connor Nygard, Cole and Alex Wattermann. Between them, five runs were scored off of 10 hits compared to a collective total of 11 strikeouts. The committee walked just a single batter. 

Strap in, because the start of game two ended up being a real doozy. 

The Wolves opened the contest with a trio of runs in an effort highlighted by an Andrew Wederick double that made it 2-0. Not to be deterred, the Bulldogs got right to work to even things up on the bottom of the first. Eventually, the combined power of a Pokornowski sac fly and a Sam Tanner single left UMD just a run shy of achieving that goal at 3-2. Then, Nathan Rosenberg stepped up to the bag. The sophomore catcher had been inactive in game one, thus unable to participate in homer palooza. There was nothing else for him to do then than to get game two's party started himself- a massive three-run blast brought in Alex Wattermann and Tanner to suddenly leave UMD with the lead at 5-3.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, NSU would maintain the spirit of the festivities. A two-run homer from Reece Ragatz in the top of the second immediately tied things up at five a pop. But it didn't stop there- enter the top of the third. Back-to-back two-run homers from Easton Rerick and Portner suddenly left the Wolves with a four-run cushion at 9-5. Jack Puder was able to chip into this score in the bottom of the third with some crafty base running that saw him work from second to home off of a steal and an error, but NSU answered right back. Niko Pezonella scored in the top of the fourth to leave things at 10-6. A Wedrick single in the fifth would eventually push that lead to five at 11-6. 

What a fifth frame it'd be for UMD.

Taking Rosenberg's lead from earlier, the Bulldogs got right back to going yard- and just at the right time. A solo bomb from Cole came on just the third pitch of the frame. It was followed shortly thereafter with yet another blast from Alex Wattermann, his second on the day, to push UMD all the way to within just two runs at 11-9. But just as quickly as the Bulldogs surged back into this one, NSU's lead would be fortified once again. A three-run sixth left the score at 14-9 Wolves.

What followed was a brief defensive showcase from both squads, something to counteract all the scoring. There wouldn't be another run until the bottom of the eighth, one that would belong to UMD. A double from, who else, Pokornowski drove in Mann to make it 14-10. But from a defensive perspective, this is when the Bulldogs' massive pitching platoon on the day reached the apex of its consequences. In the top of the ninth in a game that was well within reach, UMD turned to an unconventional answer at the mound: catcher Caden Klebba.

First batter- fly out. Good start. Second batter? Struck right out. Even better. Third batter? One, two, three. K. Out of the inning. 

It was an absolutely Herculean effort from Klebba that had kept his team alive in this one in the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, there'd be no ensuing offensive rally. It was three up, three down for the Bulldogs, as the Wolves ended up taking game two 14-10. 

Rosenberg was the offensive standout for UMD in this one, going 2-3 from the plate while generating three RBIs and a run. Five more Bulldogs hit the mound over the course of this game, those being Mason Thiel, Chase Eiden, Ryan Wattermann, Mason Tovre and Klebba. Between them, 14 runs were scored (11 earned) on 12 hits and seven walks. For the Wolves, Wedwick was massive offensively, going 3-6 from the plate and driving in three runs. Ragatz and Portner also had 3 RBIs on the day. Zach Carolin did the brunt of the pitching work, letting up five hits, nine runs and four walks over 4.1 innings.

The Bulldogs and Wolves will have an opportunity to break the tie on Monday, April 3 when the squads face off for one more game on the campus of Wayne State. First pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m.