The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team went bat for bat today as they reached the second half of their schedule in the RussMatt Central Florida Invite, splitting a pair of run heavy games against the Davis & Elkins College Senators and the Florida Tech Panthers.

Game One: UMD (14) - D&E (2)

The Senators would set the tone early in today's matchup, scoring from second on a line drive single out to the center field grass in the first inning. A Bulldog error would put D&E back in scoring position in the second, allowing them to score again on a sacrifice fly ball and take an early two run lead. Then the Bulldogs started to break out the bats with freshman outfielder Tanner Albeck starting off the third inning with a home run over the left field wall. UMD would score two more runs off of a bunt and a base hit before the end of the inning and would take a 3-2 lead. 

The Bulldogs would get a quick one, two, three defensive side as they head into the top of the fourth. They would get the bases loaded after three walks from the Senators, and drive in two on a ground ball that would tally Davis & Elkins' second error of the day. The free bases would keep coming, as another walk and a sacrifice fly would allow the Bulldogs to collect another two runs before the end of the fourth. A solo home run for UMD by first baseman Troy Lynch in the fifth  would be the run the game would see until the seventh inning, where five base hits for the Bulldogs and a balk by the Senators pitcher would drive in an extra six runs and give UMD a win to open the day.

Game Two: UMD (9) - FIT (19)

With an early double driving in a run to get things going, sophomore catcher Michael Gabbard would go yard for a grand slam, picking up his third home run of the season and getting the Bulldogs out to an early 5-0 lead in the second inning. The Panthers would be quick however to respond, scoring three on a collection of base hits to cut into the UMD lead. Both teams would collect another run in back to back half innings, but in the bottom of the fourth the Panthers would go on to collect another three runs off of base hits to take their first lead of the ball game.

The scoring would not stop there as the Panthers would collect two more in the fifth and four more in the sixth, but the Bulldogs would take their own shot to respond, tallying on three runs in the top of the seventh to make the score 9-13. The Panthers would go on to score six in the bottom of the seventh, giving UMD a loss to end the day.

Looking Ahead

Bulldog baseball will close out their Florida games tomorrow with a pair of matchups against the Holy Family University Tigers and the Embry Riddle University Eagles. First pitch tomorrow is set for 9:00 AM EST.