The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team ran its current Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference winning streak to six games after adding two triumphs Friday from Marshall, Minn. against Southwest Minnesota State University. 

The Bulldogs blanked the Mustangs 9-0 in game one before defeating SMSU 6-1 in game two. The two triumphs improved UMD's league record to 6-4 and overall record to 25-10. 

Game 1 (9-0, UMD win)

After a scoreless first five innings, Kat Burkhardt opened up the game in the top of the sixth inning with her team-leading fourth home run of the season, which also brought Morgan McMillan home for a 2-0 lead. After Nicole Schmitt singled up the middle, Schmitt scored of a double from Kendal Jenkins to stretch the Bulldogs' run total to 3-0. 

A triple from Kiana Bender in the top of the seventh inning scored both Dea Deleon and Emma Ambroz made it a 5-0 game, and a single by McMillan scored Bender. McMillan scored on a wild pitch to ring up 7-0, and after Burkhardt had doubled, she scored on Ella Potts fly out. UMD's ninth and final run was scored by Schmitt, who scored on Khendal Johnson's single to left field.

Lauren Dixon earned her sixth shutout on the season and improved to 13-4. The senior threw four strikeouts and finished the 92 complete game of her career, which leaves her just two shy of tying the UMD complete game record. Three Bulldogs had two hits in the outing – Bender (2-4), Burkhardt (2-4) and Schmitt (2-3). The game also marked the seventh shutout for UMD on the season.

Game 2 (6-1, UMD win)

Burkardt hit her second home run of the day and fourth-straight game with a homer in the top of the first, which also scored McMillan for the early 2-0 lead. The Mustangs responded with a run to pull within one run at 2-1, but UMD got right back up to the plate in the top of the first and made it a 3-1 game when Deleon's single to left field scored Kate Mohr. 

That score would hold until the top of the fifth when Burkhardt's lead off single led to another two UMD runs when Schmitt's double scored both Burkhardt and Julia Gronholz, who had reached first on a fielding error. The Bulldogs wrapped up their scoring in the top of the sixth when McMillan singled and got on base and then advanced on a Burkhardt double to right field. Groholz then singled to right field to score McMillan and put the final 6-1 score on the board for UMD.

Maddy Walsh got the win for UMD (7-0) in 3.2 innings pitched, while Allison Luoma had 3.1 innings on the mound, and both threw one strikeout. Burkhardt and Mohr led all batters with three hits on four at bats.

UMD will head to St. Paul, Minn. to face Concordia St. Paul University Saturday in a conference doubleheader that begins with game one at 12:00 p.m.