What a tale of two games.

The University of Minnesota Duluth capped off the Lewis Dome Invitational with the wildest of outcomes Saturday night in Rosemount, Ill. The Bulldogs was blanked 6-0 and left baffled by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in game one but rebounded and let out their frustration with a season-high 16 runs in a 16-6 shellacking of Wayne State University (Mich.) in the final game.

The 16-run performance was the most runs scored by UMD since a 16-0 shutout of Bemidji State University back on Feb. 11, 2023. The Bulldogs led 5-2 heading into the seventh and started to tee off on the Warrior pitching staff. When the dust settled, 11 runs on seven hits featuring six runs before an out was even recorded in the inning. The 11 runs was also the most in a single inning by a Bulldog club since they tabbed an 11-run first inning on the University of Mary -- also (oddly enough) back on Feb. 11, 2023.

UMD (10-4 overall) went 4-2 in the invitational and continued its offensive prowess as it plated at least seven runs in all four victories. However, the Bulldogs were shutout in both losses.

The Rangers (5-1) and Ellie Curtis became one of the few teams to slow down and haul the Bulldog offense. UMD accounted for just two hits -- junior infielder Ava Johnson and sophomore outfielder Noelle Krumrie. Curtis went 6.0 innings allowing five base runners and didn't allow a Bulldog base runner to advance past second base. Meanwhile, Parkside scored two in the second, two in the third and two more in the sixth. Senior pitcher Allison Luoma was hit with the loss giving up four runs in 2.2 innings. Sophomore pitcher Maddy Walsh came in for the final 3.1 innings and surrendered two runs while punching out two Parkside batters.

The finale started much like the first game of the night. The Bulldogs could only muster a hit and a walk through the first three innings. Finally, the bats awoke in the fourth. UMD got back-to-back walks from sophomore outfielder Sierra Thomas and senior infielder Nicole Schmitt. Then with two on and one out, sophomore Serena Timmer crushed the first pitch she saw and went bombs away. Her three-run shot -- her first of the season -- opened the floodgates. 

The Bulldogs tallied two more in the fifth inning. Junior outfielder Morgan McMillan, sophomore outfielder Emma Ambroz and Schmitt led off the inning with singles. Schmitt hit a rocket back up the middle to the center fielder to score McMillan. With the bases loaded, Timmer added her fourth RBI on a ground out to increase to lead to 5-2.

Seven straight batters reached base in the seventh in one of the craziest innings. UMD almost batted around twice as it compiled seven hits, four walks and three batters hit by a pitch. The Warriors (3-4) needed three different pitchers to throw 100 combined pitches to record the final three outs.

Sophomore infielder Khendal Johnson had an infield RBI single and freshman Taylor Tschida bounced a two-run single down the right field line. Fellow freshman infielder Taryn Christopher joined in on the rally, smashing a RBI double in the right center gap, followed by pinch-hitting freshman Taylor Dawyduk netting a bunch of collegiate firsts on her at-bat. Dawyduk checked off her first hit (a double), first RBI, and later, would come around to score her first run. She added another RBI on a hit by pitch later in the inning.

By the time UMD got around the order once, it expanded its lead to 11-2. Schmitt and freshman outfielder Lauren Jenkins tacked on the next three runs as they started around the order again as the Bulldogs tacked on five more before having the inning come to an end.

Carrying a hefty lead, head coach Nat Wagner turned the ball over to freshman pitcher Taylor Gallahue to make her collegiate debut. The Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native pitched the seventh and registered her first collegiate strikeout. Junior pitcher Allyssa Williams collected her second straight win, going six strong, giving up five hits, a walk and striking out four batters after posting a career high 11 punch outs last night.

The Bulldogs next stop is the Drury Classic  is Springfield, Mo.They will play six more non-conference games starting on Friday, March 28 against Newman University and host Drury University.