The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team returned to Wade Stadium for the first time this season, clashing with Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) rival Wayne State College in their 2024 home opener.

Game One: UMD (0) - WSC (6)

After a quiet opening two innings from the plate, the Wildcats would open up the scoring first in this afternoon's doubleheader after scoring two runs on back to back base hits in the top of the third inning. A two out triple from Jack Puder in the fourth inning would bring some energy to the Bulldog bench, though it would be canceled out as the next out ended the inning. WSC would go on to score another four runs on eight hits through the final three innings, ending the first game of the doubleheader.

Game Two: UMD (3) - WSC (4)

A bases loaded walk and single in the top of the third inning would get WSC on the board first again in game two. A scoreless fourth would break up the action before the Wildcats would tally on another run on a base hit in the top of the fifth. However, the Bulldogs would respond with their first display of offensive production on the afternoon after a Gabe Richardson base hit would score Oran Hinkle from second base. A defensive battle would keep the next three and a half innings scoreless going into the bottom of the ninth. A leadoff double from Sam Kilber would put him in position to score on a Michael Gabbard single to the right center field grass. Gabbard would tag up to score with a sacrifice fly ball from Richardson on the very next pitch, making the score 3-4 with just one out in the final half inning. Unfortunately, a subsequent groundout and strikeout would close out the game and leave the Bulldogs 0-2 in games for their home opener.

Looking Ahead

Bulldog baseball will be back in action tomorrow afternoon to finish out the four game series against the Wildcats. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM tomorrow from the NBC Spartan Sports Complex in Superior, WI.