The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team closed out the Lewis Dome Invitational in Rosemont, Ill. with two triumphs Saturday afternoon in the Dome at the Ballpark.

The Bulldogs blanked Hillsdale College 4-0 in the early morning game before defeating Lewis University for a second time this season by a score of 5-3. Overall, UMD went 4-2 over the three day slate of games, and is now 7-2 overall on the young season.

Game 1 vs Hillsdale (4-0 UMD)

The Bulldogs shutout the Chargers behind 11 shutouts from senior pitcher Lauren Dixon and capitalized on four errors committed by Hillsdale. UMD scored two runs in the second inning,including Julia Gronholz off a sacrifice fly from Kate Mohr, followed by a run scored off an error from Kelly Swank. 

Nicole Schmitt scored off an error in the fifth inning to make it a 3-0 game, and Corrie Weise crossed the plate in the sixth to stretch UMD final run tallies to 4-0. Overall, the Bulldogs had seven hits in the game, led by Kat Burkhardt's two hits, a team high.

Game 2 vs Lewis (5-3 UMD)

UMD found its offense early and never looked back against the Flyers, hitting out to a 5-0 lead after just two innings of play. Burkardt advanced to third on a wild pitch to score Kiana Bender, then Schmtt knocked Burkardt home with a home run in the 3-0 first inning. Kendal Jenkins' double in the second frame scored both Bender and Swank, stretching the Bulldogs lead to 5-0. 

From there, UMD defense held Lewis off, allowing one run in the second, sixth and seventh innings – including a Flyer triple in the final inning. But Lewis would get no closer, giving Allison Luoma her first win on the mound with three shutouts, and Maddy Walsh a save with two shutouts to her credit as well as the two runs against.

Bender led UMD with two hits, while Schmitt had a team-high two RBIs in the Bulldogs seventh win of the season.

UMD heads to Springfield, Mo. this weekend to play six games in three days against MIssouri S&Tand Drury University Friday, University of Central Oklahoma and Southwest Baptist University Saturday, and the University of Crookston and the University of Nebraska at Kearney Sunday.