THE OPENING PITCH: With a couple of three-out-of-four weekends under its belt to kick off the season, the University of Minnesota Duluth partakes in its first road trip out of the state to the Lewis Dome Invitational in Rosemount, Ill., starting on Thursday, Feb. 20. The Bulldogs square off with a pair of games over the course of three days for six more non-conference contests with Thursday featuring Grand Valley State University (3:30 p.m.) and the University of Lewis (8:00 p.m.). Friday's matches consists of Purdue University Northwest (3:30 p.m.) and Hillsdale College (8:00 p.m.), and finally, action concludes on Saturday with the University of Wisconsin Parkside (6:00 p.m.) and Wayne State University (8:00 p.m.).

SCOUTING REPORT ON GRAND VALLEY STATE: The Lakers are 0-2 this season after falling to the University of Findlay twice (1-6 and 2-8). GVSU finished 37-18 last season and lost to Trevecca Nazarene University in the NCAA Midwest Regional. The Lakers are coached by Dana Callihan, who is in her 11th season, and has a 389-114 record at GVSU.

SCOUTING REPORT ON LEWIS: The Flyers are 4-6 this season and have won two straight. They went 2-6 in Hawaii before blanking Roosevelt University 7-0 twice last Sunday. Lewis finished 40-17 last season and had its season end at the NCAA Midwest Regional to the University of Indianapolis. The Flyers are coached by Becky Pearl, who is in her 11th season with the team, and has a career coaching record of 512-470.

SCOUTING REPORT ON PURDUE NORTHWEST: The Pride will enter the tournament with their first slate of games for the 2025 season with the Bulldogs being the fourth opponent this season. In 2024, Purdue Northwest went 33-22 and lost to Saginaw Valley State University in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament to conclude the year. The Pride are coached by Tristan Zink, who is in her fifth season with the PNW, and carries a 110-87 record.

SCOUTING REPORT ON HILLSDALE: The Chargers are 4-4 this season after finishing up at the Hawaii Invitational with a win over Hawaii Pacific University. Hillsdale capped off last season going 34-14 and bowed out in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament. The Chargers are coached by Kyle Gross, who owns a 164-122 record in his seventh season.

SCOUTING REPORT ON WISCONSIN PARKSIDE: The Rangers are 2-0 entering the weekend with shutouts over Quincy University (6-0 and 8-0) to start the season. Wisconsin Parkside went 19-33 and had its season come to a close in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament to Purdue Northwest last season. The Rangers are coached by Kristin Ortman, who sports a 121-243 record in her ninth season at UWP.

SCOUTING REPORT ON WAYNE STATE: The Warriors are 2-1 this season after playing in the Lincoln Memorial Invitational in Harrogate, Tenn., this past weekend. Wayne State capped off the 2024 season going 17-30 overall and dropped out to Wisconsin Parkside in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. The Warriors are coached by fourth-year head coach Nicole Tines, who is 48-95 at WSU.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and its opponents stack up with their respective records this season, and records compared to last season.
 

TEAM	'25 RECORD	'24 RECORD
UMD	6-2	41-15
GVSU	0-2	37-18
LEWIS	4-6	40-17
PNW	0-0	33-22
HC	4-4	33-14
UWP	2-0	19-33
WSU	2-1	17-30

HOW TO FOLLOW THIS WEEKEND: The full slate of games this weekend are not available through a live stream or live stats. Lewis will be live streaming its games only and will have one available for its game versus UMD at a cost. That live stream can be viewed here. Otherwise, check the schedule for up to date information under each opponent for live stats, if they come available. 

LAST PLATE APPEARANCE: UMD went 3-1 at the MSU Dome Invitational Tournament back on Feb. 7-8. The Bulldogs split on the first day, defeating Concordia University, St. Paul 8-3 before suffering a 2-0 setback to host Minnesota State University, Mankato. The rally dogs showed up on day two as UMD battled back from early deficits in each game. Down 2-0, the Bulldogs scored four times in the fifth inning to complete the 4-2 comeback over the Golden Bears. The Mavericks fell victim as they surrendered a 5-2 lead with UMD exploding for seven runs in the fifth inning to knock off MSU 9-5.

SCHMITT TABBED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior infielder Nicole Schmitt was named the NSIC Player of the Week for her efforts during the opening week of play. She earned the honor back on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Schmitt, the product of Edgewood H.S., went .714 (10-for-14) at the dish in four games with four doubles, two home runs and a NSIC-high 12 RBI. She posted a .714/.765/1.429 slash line, which she led the NSIC in batting average, slugging percentage and doubles to start the season, and she recorded multi-hit games in all four games.

It is the first time Schmitt has received a weekly honor during her collegiate tenure, and the first Bulldog to win a league award since Lauren Dixon claimed Pitcher of the Week honors back on Apr. 22, 2024 for the second time last season. In addition, she is the first Bulldog since Sidney Zavoral to earn the Player of the Week accolade, earning that distinction back on Feb. 14, 2023. 

CONTROL OF THE CIRCLE: Senior pitcher Allison Luoma has been the top arm to toe the stripe for the Bulldogs. Her five starts are the first among her conference foes and 46th most in the nation. Her seven appearances are also first in the NSIC and 42nd in the NCAA. Luoma is 3-0 this season with a save and holds a share of a shutout this season. The Iron River, Wis., native holds team-best marks in ERA (2.33), WHIP (1.00) and strikeouts (18).

EIGHT IS GREAT: Junior outfielder Morgan McMillan has at least one hit in every game this season. Her eight-game hitting streak to start the season is the longest of her career and she is the lone Bulldog to corral at least a single, a double, a triple and a home run. 

DOUBLES MACHINE: UMD ranks 24th in the nation in doubles and third in the nation in doubles per game. The Bulldogs have 20 doubles through the first eight games including six doubles against Southwest Minnesota State University, the most doubles by UMD in a game since they blasted seven against the University of Mary back on 4/11/2021.

TOUCH 'EM ALL: UMD also ranks 29th in the nation in home runs and 17th in the nation in homers per game. The Bulldogs have homered in half of their games this season including a season high three times last time out against Minnesota State University, Mankato.

GOOD EYE: Free passes have been a steady diet in 2025. UMD has 48 walks, which is 13th most in the nation. The 48 walks is the most among any team with fewer than 11 games played this season. The Bulldogs have walked at least five times in six outings including a season-high 11 base on balls against Concordia University, St. Paul. The 11 walks is the most in a single UMD game dating back to Feb. 11, 2023 against the University of Mary.

RUNS ON RUNS: UMD posted back-to-back 10-run games for the first time since the 2023 season, when the Bulldogs pulled off double-digit runs in four straight. UMD registered a run differential of 53-5 during that four-game span. The Bulldogs are averaging 6.38 runs a game, which is 44th in the nation.

LET ME SEE YOU 1-2 STEP: The Bulldogs have scored 12 runs this season in three different innings -- first, third and fifth. UMD has accounted for 36 of its 51 runs this season in those three innings (70.6%).

SURVEY SAYS: The NSIC coaches placed UMD fourth in the coaches' preseason poll for the second time in a row. The poll was released on Jan. 23 and the league selected Augustana to finish first in the 2025 NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll. This marks the sixth consecutive season that the Vikings have been selected to win the NSIC. The four-time defending regular season champions amassed 196 points and 14 first place votes. Concordia-St. Paul was second with 174 points and Minnesota State came in third with 163 points and the other first place vote. The Bulldogs, who are looking to secure their first regular season title since 2013, claimed 157 points.

Augustana senior pitcher Grace Glanzer -- the 2024 NSIC Pitcher of the Year -- was named the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, while Concordia-St. Paul sophomore infielder Alexis Monty -- the 2024 NSIC Freshman of the Year -- was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.
 

2025 NSIC Softball Preseason Poll	Points
1. Augustana (14)	196
2. Concordia St. Paul	174
3. Minnesota State (1)	163
4. Minnesota Duluth	157
5. Winona State	155
6. Minot State	125
7. St. Cloud State	116
8. MSU Moorhead	100
9. Sioux Falls	86
10. Southwest Minnesota State	81
11. Northern State	70
12. Bemidji State	54
13. Wayne State	43
14. Minnesota Crookston	38
15. U-Mary	17

    first place votes in ( )

ALL EYES ON ME: Senior infielder Nicole Schmitt and sophomore pitcher Maddy Walsh were selected as the UMD duo to watch for from the conference. Schmitt was labeled the Player to Watch and Walsh was labeled the Pitcher to Watch.

Schmitt, a native of Verona, Wis., was the lone Bulldog to suit up and play in every game last season. She paced the club with 62 hits, 18 doubles, six home runs and 45 RBI. She carried a slash line of .354/.418/.560 as she maintained a consistent cog in the heart of the lineup.  The two-time All-NSIC First Team selection enters her season finale with career marks of a .324 batting average, a .403 on-base and a .502 slugging percentage.

Walsh, the local hometown product, flashed immediately her freshman season going 8-1 on the rubber in 11 starts and 23 total appearances. The Duluth, Minn., native held a 2.53 ERA in 78.1 innings while combining for a pair of shutouts and even locked down games with a team-high two saves last season en route to being named to the NSIC All-Conference second team. Walsh held the opposition to a .254 batting average and struck out 54 batters while walking only 20.

THE 2024 SEASON IN REVIEW: The Bulldogs ended the 2024 season in the NSIC Championship game, losing to Augustana University for the postseason tournament crown. It was a rematch of the 2023 Championship game, which saw UMD win its first postseason conference championship since 2002. The Bulldogs finished 41-15 overall and third in the NSIC with a 20-8 record.

2024 ACCOLADES: Pitcher Lauren Dixon, outfielder Kat Burkhardt and infielder Nicole Schmitt earned NSIC All-Conference First Team, while pitcher Maddy Walsh garnered a spot on the NSIC All-Conference Second Team. 

Dixon, the 2024 NSIC's Preseason Player of the Year, was named to the 2024 D2 Conference Commissioner's Association Second Team. Dixon capped her Bulldog career strikeout record at 821 with the addition of 236 – an NSIC-high – this season and owned a record of 23-6. Dixon, a two-time NSIC Pitcher of the Week and named to the NFCA D2 Pitcher of the Year Watchlist, also took over UMD career marks for wins (74), games completed (81), starts by a pitcher (105), and the innings pitched record at 659.1.

GETTING THE CALL UP: The Bulldogs feature seven new players to the 2025 roster which includes six freshmen. That list comprise of infielder Taryn Christopher (Kaukauna, Wis.), infielder Taylor Dawyduk (Winnipeg, Manitoba), utility player Kaylie Frydenlund (Sun Prairie, Wis.), pitcher Taylor Gallahue (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), outfielder Lauren Jenkins (Hastings, Minn.), and infielder Taylor Tschida (St. Michael, Minn.). The other lone newcomer is sophomore outfielder Billi Connell (Luverne, Minn.), who transfers in after one season at the University of Minnesota.

CANADA, EH?: Taylor Dawyduk is just the fourth born Canadian to play for the UMD Bulldog softball team. The last player from the Great White North to suit up for the maroon and gold was Myriam Trepanier, who was duo a duo sport athlete playing for the women's hockey team from 2006-09.

SISTER ACT III: Teammates junior Kendal Jenkins and  freshman Lauren Jenkins are the third pairing of siblings to suit up and play for the UMD softball team, joining the Sadler's (Cayli and Sammi) and the Hotops' (Jen and Leanne). The Sadler duo, the recent sister, sister act, played one year together in 2016. The Hotops played three seasons together from 2000-02. 

THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME: Nat Wagner grabbed his first win -- in his first game -- as the head coach of the UMD softball team against Southwest Minnesota State University. The Bulldogs defeated the Mustangs in convincing fashion, blanking the Mustangs 7-0 in the season opener on Feb. 1.

THE WAGNER FILES: A new era of Bulldog softball commences this season with the addition of head coach Nat Wagner. The newest manager of the maroon and gold becomes just the fifth head coach in the program's 44-year history after serving as an assistant coach for the University of Saint Thomas the past two seasons. Prior, Wagner was at the helm of the Minot State University program for three years, leading the Beavers to a 60-48 record and one NSIC Postseason appearance.

ON DECK: The Bulldogs continue the non-conference slate next weekend with the Drury Classic hosted by Drury University in Springfield, Mo. UMD will play six games with action beginning on Friday, Feb. 28.