The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team hit a road bump in their journey through the 2024 season this afternoon, falling in both games of today's doubleheader to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) opponent Concordia St. Paul.

Game One: UMD (2) - CSP (3)

A true defensive battle kept the game scoreless through the opening innings and helped highlight the abilities of ace pitcher Lauren Dixon, who picked up four of her five strikeouts in game one through the opening three innings. 

With two outs left in the bottom of the fourth, the Golden Bears would break open the scoring with a three run shot over the center field wall. It would take until the top of the sixth inning for the Bulldogs to take their chance to respond with a two run bomb from Julia Gronholz, cutting the deficit to just one with an inning and a half to go. However, a shutout top of the seventh with tall three out on UMD coming from strikeouts would put an end to game one. 

Game Two: UMD (5) - CSP (6)

Another quiet opening two innings would characterize game two for the Bulldogs before a five run bottom of the third for CSP, all on three run homer and two solo home runs, would push the Bulldogs to an early 5-0 deficit. Kat Burkhardt would draw the leadoff walk to open the fourth, and would eventually tally one on for the Bulldogs after scoring off of back to back base hits. 

A bases loaded hit by pitch would tally one back in for CSP in response before a break in the action as the fifth and sixth inning would stay scoreless. A bases loaded single from Morgan McMillan would score two and start off a surge of offensive energy as UMD would collect two more runs on back to back sacrifice fly balls, but a final flyout would cut the comeback short and leave the Bulldogs at a one run deficit to end the game. 

"We gave both those games away today. There's no doubt about that. We didn't compete from start to finish and yet, still had opportunities to take the lead in the top of the 7th both games and didn't execute in those moments. We're capable of doing all those things and doing them consistently, so I look forward to our team making those adjustments as we defend our home turf for the first time this season in the week ahead." - Head Coach Lynn Anderson

Looking Ahead

Bulldog softball looks to make their first home appearance of the 2024 season this Wednesday, April 10, in a doubleheader against the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM from Junction Avenue Field.