The bats came out big for the University of Minnesota Duluth softball team Saturday against Wayne State College, offensively overwhelming the Wildcats by scores of 10-1 and 9-1 in the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn. on the campus of St. Cloud State University.

 

The Bulldogs played just five innings in both games, and set season-highs for hits – twice – on the afternoon. Easily UMD's best offensive effort in back-to-back games on the season, the Bulldogs wrap up the entire four-game stand in St. Cloud having committed just one error – an impressive stand on the defensive side of the game.

 

 The game one win also marked the 100th UMD triumph for Bulldog head coach Lynn Anderson, who reached the milestone faster than any other head coach in program history.

 

"Offensively, it was good to see us have a day like today where our bats finally got hot," said Anderson. "That's a corner that we're looking to turn, and we want to continue that next week. Better today than yesterday, and we took care of the controllables that we've been talking about, which was good. I thought, defensively, again, we did well. I think we had maybe one error, and we don't wanna give up those freebies, but our bats on offense made up for it today."

 

Game 1, 10-1 UMD win

The Bulldogs began the game with five-straight hits and never looked back. Kiana Bender, Morgan McMillan, Kendal Jenkins and Julia Gronholz all hit singles in their first four at bats, and by the time Nicole Schmitt doubled to hit Jenkins home, UMD had racked up three runs in the bottom of the first inning. 

 

It was more of the same in the bottom of the second inning, with UMD piling up four runs on four hits from Bender, McMillan, a fly out and RBI to Gronholz and then 3-run home run by Schmitt, her team-best third of the season, to make it a 7-0 Bulldog advantage. WSC picked its lone run of the game in the top of the third, but UMD responded with another four hits and three runs, highlighted by a double from McMillan and singles from Kate Mohr, Jenkins and Gronholz.

 

The 10-1 Bulldog offensive outburst ended the game early after the Wildcats couldn't get on the board in the top of the fifth. Millan led all player from the plate, going 3-of-3, while four  other players had two hits – Bender, Jenkins, Gronholz and Schmitt.

 

Lauren Dixon earned her 13th win of the season and improved to 12-4 on the season earned her 63rd career win – already a program record.

 

Game 2, 9-1 UMD win

The Bulldogs started game two off the way they had ended game one, with plenty of hits and runs to score. Four hits in the bottom of the first translated to an early 2-0 lead off Bender crossing home on a McMillan steal that led to an error by the Wildcats, and a ground out RBI from Groholz that scored McMillan later. Three hits again in the bottom of the second result in another two runs and a 4-0 lead by UMD after two innings played – Bender homered to right field

 

For a third-straight inning, UMD scored two runs in the third on three hits, and a single up the middle by McMillian scored both Dia Deleon and Mohr to make it a 8-0 game. The Bulldogs packed it on in the bottom of the fourth with two runs on two hits, and sealed the triumph in the bottom of the fifth with a run when Jenkins scored off a bases loaded walk.

 

Maddy Walsh improved to 5-0 on the mound in the game and threw six strikeouts against 21 batters faced. McMillan led all hitters going a perfect 4-of-4 at the plate, while three other players had multiple hit games - Deleon, Gronholz and Bender. With 14 hits in the game (and in just five innings played), UMD -- for a second time Saturday -- connected for a season-high 14 hits, surpassing the 13 hit game it recorded earlier in the day in game one.

 

The Bulldogs (21-10, 2-4) will hit the field next in Bemidji, Minn. when they face Bemidji State University on Tuesday. That NSIC doubleheader will get underway at 12:00 p.m. and will wrap up with game two at 2:00 p.m.