The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team kicked off their road trip schedule at the RussMatt Central Florida Invite this week, going 2-3 over their first trio of double headers against the Ohio Dominican University Panthers, the Grand Valley State University Lakers, and the Wayne State University Warriors.

Game One: UMD (2) - ODU (13)

The Bulldogs knocked in the first runs of their Florida schedule in the top of the second inning with the help of back to back doubles from infielders Jack Puder and Ethan Cole. The Panthers would get their chance to strike back in the bottom of the inning off a string of wild pitches and a sacrifice fly to make the score 1-2, but it would not go unanswered by the Bulldogs, getting another one two punch from the infield duo of Puder and Cole to tie up the game in the top of the third. After quiet half innings on both sides, ODU would break out the bats in their half of the fourth to tally on eight runs. UMD would not be able to recover from the plate as the Panthers continued to add on points, ending their opening game with a loss.

Game Two: CANCELED

The second game of the doubleheader with Ohio Dominican University was canceled due to unsafe and unplayable weather conditions.

Game Three: UMD (0) - GVSU (5)

The Bulldogs kicked off day two with a pitcher's battle through the opening two innings, with pitcher Chad Fox picking up four strikeouts through the first six batters. GVSU would tally on the first run of the afternoon with a single into the right field grass, scoring a runner from third who advanced on a wild pitch. The base hits would continue for the Lakers throughout the game as the Bulldogs struggled to get their offense going, falling in the first game of the double header.

Game Four: UMD (5) - GVSU (3)

The bottom of third is where we would see the first dose of offensive action in game two with a two run homer from the Lakers. GVSU would follow that up in the fourth by scoring from second base on another base hit, but the Bulldogs would respond in the fifth with a two run homer of their own from infielder Michael Gabbard. A quick bottom of the fifth would let the Bulldogs pick up right where they left off, scoring three more runs on a double and a pair of base hits. Pitcher Zach Kuseske would finish things out on the mound for UMD, collecting five strikeouts in 2.3 innings, to secure the Bulldogs' first win in Florida and the double header split.

Game Five: UMD (12) - WSU (1)

The Bulldogs got on the board first in game one of their third double header, scoring on a grounder in the top of the third. UMD would be quick to add onto the total with a two run home run from Ethan Cole in the next inning, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. It would take until the fifth inning for the Warriors to get on the board, scoring on a base hit tap out to center field. Though that would be all WSU would get in game one, as the Bulldogs would add one run in the fourth on a walk and a pair of singles in the sixth. UMD would go on to add another eight runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by a monster grand slam from Michael Gabbard, to secure the 12-1 win.

Game Six: UMD (1) - WSU (3)

Pitcher Henry Wilkinson started out on the bump for game two, striking out five of his first nine batters. The Bulldogs would tally the first run on the board with a Jack Puder solo home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the second. Wilkinson would add on another three strikeouts and keep the Warriors shut out till an eventual pitching change in the sixth. WSU would find the spark it needed from the plate in this inning to put together three runs, a lead they would carry through the end of the game to split the double header. 

Looking Ahead

Bulldog baseball continues their slate of games in the sunshine state on Saturday, Mar. 9, following a small break in the action on Friday.