The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team secured the series split in their season opener, going 2-2 with the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs at ISG Field in Mankato, Minn.

Game One: UMD (1) - SMSU (9)

The Bulldogs got off to a rough start in this four game series on the mound with a pair of wild pitches helping the Mustangs jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Infielder Jack Puder took his chance to show off his power in the bottom of the second, launching a deep solo home run over the left field wall to get UMD on the board. Unfortunately, this would be the only run the Bulldogs score throughout the game as the Mustangs continued to rally behind their bats.

Game Two: UMD (8) - SMSU (7)

UMD would take their chance to kick off the scoring effort in game two, advancing around the bases on a SMSU scoring error and a single through the left side of the diamond to tally the first run. SMSU responded in the top of the third, stinging together a run of extra base hits to tally four runs on the board. 

Catcher Trevor Gustafson would hit his first home run of the game in the fourth with a solo slam over the right center field wall, cutting into the Mustang lead. A pitching battle would mellow out the game until the seventh inning where SMSU would tally on two more on a pair of wild pitches and a fielder's choice, but UMD would respond with a run of their own after a double from infielder Joey Flom.

Back to back home runs from Jack Puder and Trevor Gustafson in the eighth would get the Bulldogs back within one. SMSU would get themselves back a multiple run lead after scoring on a wild pitch in the ninth, but a single and a walk for UMD in the bottom of the inning would bring their winning run up to the plate. Puder would send a double down the left field line before the Mustangs would intentionally walk Gustafson. Outfielder Oran Hinkle would walk it off for the Bulldogs after sending a single out to left field and closing out day one with a win.

Game Three: UMD (2) - SMSU (8)

After a double and a sacrifice grounder, the Mustangs would tally the first run of the game in the top of the third inning on a wild pitch. Another double and a single in the fourth would increase SMSU's lead to two, and the score would hold until the seventh while pitchers Brandon Buttweiler and Zach Kuseske would combine for four strikeouts. 

Trevor Gustafson would lead off the seventh inning with his third home run of this four game series, while two consecutive walks and a single up the middle by pinch hitter Troy Lynch would tie things up and send it to extra innings. The Mustangs would rally the bats in the first inning of extras to tally six more runs and shut things down in the bottom of the eighth, ending game three.

Game Four: UMD (14) - SMSU (5)

The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead to start things off in game four, tallying three in the first inning with a sac fly and a single turned double. They would be quick to add another two runs to their total with a two run homer in the third inning, but that lead would all come crashing down as the Bulldogs broke out the bats. 

The Bulldogs would tally their first two runs of the afternoon with a two run homer over the left field wall by Kade Peloquin in the third, and would be followed up by a two run shot from Jack Puder in the next inning to get the Dogs within one. A failed pick off attempt by SMSU would kick off a nine run fifth inning for the Bulldogs, which included a three run slam for Jack Puder and his fourth home run of the series, all but guaranteeing a win for UMD to come out with the series split to open up the 2024 season.

Looking Ahead

Baseball heads to Auburndale, Florida next week to take on the RussMatt Central Florida Invite. The Bulldogs will face off first against Ohio Dominican University on Tuesday, Mar. 5, at 2:45 PM.