Six runs in the final two innings propelled the University of Minnesota Duluth softball team over Lewis University Saturday at the Mankato Dome Invite inside the Maverick Sports Dome in Mankato, Minn.

In a showdown between two 2023 NCAA Tournament teams, the game was a scoreless pitchers duel until the Bulldogs came to bat in the top of the sixth inning. UMD had a pair of doublesm starting with senior catcher Kate Mohr to left field to score Kendal Jenkins and Nicole Schmitt, followed by a double to left center by Elle Potts who hit home Mohr to give the maroon and gold a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs followed their offensive sixth inning effort with another three-run push in the top of the seventh. Schmitt singled to right field to get Ava Johnson home and advance Kat Burkhardt, followed by a Julia Gronholz double to right field that scored Burkhardt and Schmitt. Just like that, UMD had broken open a once stalemate game with a 6-0 lead to show for it.

Senior pitcher Lauren Dixon (2-0) earned the shutout with nine strikeouts, and now has 23 in two games already this season while running the career Bulldog shutout record to 608 in the process. Seven players recorded hits in the win, with Gronholz and Mohr leading UMD with two RBIs.

The undefeated Bulldogs (3-0) will see Lewis again at the end of the month when they travel to Rosemont, Ill. to play in the Lewis Dome Invitational. Those six games get underway on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6:00 p.m. against Upper Iowa University, and will conclude with the tournament's host – the Flyers, on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD's shutout was the first of the season, and first five games going back to last season … the Bulldogs blanked Augustana University 9-0 on May 9, 2023 … through three games, Julia Gronholz leads UMD with six hits in nine at bats … Gronholz also has three doubles – a one double a game average – to start the season … UMD is unbeaten all time- against Lewis University with a record of 4-0 in four games over the past three seasons … the Bulldogs are averaging five runs a game against the Flyers.