The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team is back in action for the first time in 2024 as they head down to Mankato, Minn. to take on the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs in a four game series.
MATCHUP INFORMATION
Sunday, Feb. 25
2:00 PM & 4:00 PM vs. SMSU
Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs/
Live Stats: https://smsumustangs.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Monday, Feb. 26
10:30 AM & 12:30 PM vs. SMSU
Watch Live: https://nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs/
Live Stats: https://smsumustangs.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
SCOUTING REPORT - SOUTHWEST MINN. STATE
Southwest Minn. State started off their 2024 at the beginning of this week, going 0-4 against the St. Cloud State University Huskies in a four game series. The Bulldogs are 18-10 against the Mustangs since the 2013 season, splitting their most recent series against each other last season in Marshall.
The Bulldogs put on an offensive clinic in their 18-6 win over the Mustangs in the first game of their most recent series, collecting eight runs in the first inning and nine in the third. Catcher Michael Gabbard went 3-4 from the dish, sending two home runs over the wall and driving in seven runs through all seven innings.
The Bulldogs fell short in the following game of the doubleheader, falling in a 13-18 offensive battle. Shortstop Jack Puder went 3-4 from the plate and drove in one run for UMD.
The Mustangs finished fifth in last season's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) standings, with an overall record of 27-17 and a conference record of 19-13. SMSU was slated to finish in fifth place again in the NSIC Preseason Poll on Jan. 18, and welcome back 10 seniors consisting of five position players and five pitchers.
UMD SLATED TO FINISH 12TH IN NSIC STANDINGS.
After their 13th place finish with an overall record of 19-28 and a conference record of 12-22, the Bulldogs were slated to finish one place higher in the standings in the NSIC preseason poll on Jan. 18. UMD earned 44 points in the coaches poll, just five points behind Concordia St. Paul (49) and 13 points ahead of Northern State (31).
COLE AND BUTTWEILER NAMED PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH
Junior infielder Ethan Cole and graduate student pitcher Brayden Buttweiler were named as UMD's Preseason Players to Watch. Cole finished the 2023 season last year with the team's second best batting average (.346) and third best on base percentage (.418) and slugging percentage (.566). The speedy right hander had great success on the base path, leading the team in triples (2) and stolen bases (7) throughout the season. Buttweiler proved to be a reliable option in the Bulldogs' pitching rotation throughout the 2023 season, recording a 3-2 win-loss record and leading the team in innings pitched (43.0) and strikeouts (45). He closed out the season for UMD with a 3.98 earned run average and a 1.56 WHIP.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs will gear up for the annual RussMatt Central Florida Invitational following their season opening series against SMSU. UMD will open their Florida schedule with a double header against Ohio Dominican University on Mar. 5 in Auburndale.
