The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team opened up the Lewis Dome Invitational Thursday and Friday going 2-2 in four games played inside the The Dome at the Ballpark in Rosemont, Ill. 

The Bulldogs opened up with a 4-0 win Thursday night against Upper Iowa University before suffering a 5-3 setback to Wayne State University (Mich.) in the later game. Friday morning, UMD dropped a 2-0 decision to No. 5 Grand Valley State University in the early game before defeating the University of Wisconsin-Parkside 6-5 in the midday slot.

Game 1 vs Upper Iowa (4-0 UMD)

The Bulldogs stayed unbeaten against the Peacocks this season, led by the pitching of senior Laren Dixon, who had 16 shutouts and held UIU to just three hits. UMD's Kiana Bender hit in Elle Potts in the second inning for the 1-0 lead before the Bulldogs stretched it to 4-0 in the fifth inning. UMD had two scoring doubles – the first on Nicole Schmitt to score Kendal Jenkins, and then Potts, who hit in both Schmitt and Kat Burkhardt. It was the Bulldogs second-straight game holding their opponents scoreless.

Game 2 vs Wayne State (5-3 WSU)

Despite UMD scoring in the first inning behind The Warriors scored two runs in the second inning and added two in the third to build an early

Game 3 vs Grand Valley State (2-0 GVSU)

The Lakers scored two runs in the fourth inning in what would be all the fifth-ranked squad would need to hold off the Bulldogs. Dixon (3-1) gave up four hits while striking out nine Laker batters.

Game 4 vs Parkside (6-5 UMD)

Trailing 3-1 after the first inning, UMD scored twice in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3 on a double from Schmitt that scored Burkhardt, while a throwing error scored then scored Schmitt. The game went into extra innings and both sides earned a run in the eighth, but the home batting Bulldogs overcame a 4-3 Rangers lead in the ninth. A single to third base by Julia Gronholz scored Khendal Johnson, and then Gronhplz scored the game-winning run off a single to shortstop by Corrie Weise.  Mady Stariha pitched all nine innings for the Bulldogs to improve to 2-0 on the season.

The Bulldogs (5-2) will face Hillsdale College tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. before wrapping up the LDI against the hosts, Lewis University, at 1:30 p.m.