The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team embarked on a six-game, three day playing spree over the weekend in Springfield, Mo. at the Drury Classic, registering an overall record of 4-3 in the tournament to improve to 10-5 on the season.

Game 1 vs Missouri S&T (Win, 3-1, Nine Innings) (Friday)

UMD opened up the Drury Classic with an extra inning extravagent that ended with UMD scoring two runs in the top of the ninth inning. The Bulldogs broke open a scoreless game in the fourth on a passed ball that scored sophomore Khendal Jenkins. The Miners knotted it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Bulldogs doubled up in the top of the ninth when senior Katie Mohr bunted home Julia Gronholz, and then senior Kiana Bender singled to center to hit senior Elle Potts in for the 3-1 lead and eventual winning score. Senior pitcher Lauren Dixon pitched all nine innings, posting nine strikeouts and allowing just three hits.

Game 2 vs Drury (Win, 7-5) (Friday)

Senior left fielder Corrie Weise and third baseman Potts led the Bulldogs with two hits each and both contributed RBIs in UMD's hit-filled game. After Drury scored in the first inning, the Bulldogs scored twice in the second, once in the third and four runs in the fourth inning, including a double down the infield line by Wiese that scored three runs. The Panthers pulled within a single run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bulldogs defense held. Pitcher Maddy Walsh got the win with six strikeouts in five innings pitched, while Allison Luoma pitched two innings and had two shutouts.

Game 3 vs No. 12 Central Oklahoma (Loss, 1-6) (Saturday)

The Bronchos broke open a 1-1 game in the final two innings Saturday morning, scoring three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh. Mohr and Potts had the lone Bulldog hits in the outings, while Dixon took the loss in six innings pitched with nine strikeouts against 27 batters. Walsh pitched one inning, facing just three batters. The COU is the second nationally ranked team the Bulldogs have played so far this season – UMD is 0-2 in those showdowns.

Game 4 vs Southwest Baptist (Loss, 3-4) (Saturday)

After trailing 2-1 after the first inning, UMD tied the game at 2-2 off a single to center field from Weise that scored Dea Deleon in the bottom of the third inning. The Bearcats added two in the fourth, but despite pulling within one run in the bottom of the fifth when Burkhardt singled Deleon home, UMD would get no closer. Deleon went 2-for-2 in the game – Luoma took the loss in two innings pitched (five hits, one strikeout, two runs), while Allyssa Williams pitched four innings (two strikeouts, six hits, two runs) and Walsh threw one.

Game 5 vs Crookston (Win, 7-1) (Sunday)

UMD compiled five runs in the first three innings, and added two in the sixth to defeat the Golden Eagles soundly Sunday morning in Springfield. The Bulldogs went for a season-high 12 hits in the game, with four players logging multi-hit efforts. Bender, Schmitt, Gronholz and Ava Johnson all had two hits in the game, while Gronholz, along with Potts led the way with two RBIs. Dixon pitched five innings for her sixth win of the season, throwing 10 strikeouts, while Walsh pitched the final two.

Game 6 vs Nebraska Kearney (Loss, 2-8) (Sunday)

UMD got out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening two innings when Gronholz singled in Weise in the first and Bender singled to right field to score Deleon, but the Lopers, who pulled within one with a run in the fourth, opened up the game in the fifth with five runs, including a home run. Gronholz was a Bulldog-best 2-of-3 at the plate, while Luoma took the loss on the mound and is now 1-1 on the season. 

The Bulldogs will play 10 games over the next six days in Clermont, Fla. beginning with Glenville State University at 9:00 a.m. CT.