The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball will finally kick off their 2025 season this week after multiple schedule changes, facing off against the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs in back to back doubleheaders starting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 1:00 PM.

2024 In Review

Bulldog baseball closed out the 2024 season with an overall record of 18-31 and a record of 14-26 against conference opponents, narrowly missing the NSIC postseason tournament. 

Junior third baseman Gabe Richardson was the lone Bulldog to be named to an NSIC All Conference roster, earning himself a spot on the All Conference second team. Richardson, along with Michael Gabbard, Caden Klebba, Oran Hinkle, and Henry Wilkinson, earned CSC Academic All District team nominations for their efforts on the field.

Following the completion of the season in May, the Bulldogs announced Michael Gabbard, Henry Wilkinson, Ethan Cole, and Gabe Richardson to lead the roster as team captains for the 2025 season.

Scouting Report - Southwest Minnesota State

This will also be the season opener for the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs after their originally scheduled season opener was canceled. 

The Bulldogs are 20-13 overall against the Mustangs since 2013, with the two teams splitting back to back doubleheaders in last year's season opener. UMD holds a 7-1 home record, 3-3 away record, and 10-9 neutral site record against SMSU, with their largest margin of victory standing at 22 runs (22-0, Apr. 2015).

The Mustangs return 13 players from their 2024 roster. Senior Owen Latendresse returns to the SMSU outfield after earning NSIC All Conference second team honors last season. Latendresse closed out 2024 with a .373 batting average and five home runs. Senior Cameron Jensen returns to the bullpen for the Mustangs after posting a 3.86 ERA for SMSU in 2024, recording 36 strikeouts over 23.6 innings pitched.

UMD Slated to Finish 11th in NSIC Standings

Following their 11th place finish in last season standings, the Bulldogs were slated to finish at 11th place yet again in the NSIC's Preseason Coaches Poll on Jan. 16. UMD earned 57 points in the poll, just five points behind the University of Sioux Falls and 16 points ahead of Minot State University.

Richardson and Wilkinson Named Preseason Players to Watch

Junior third baseman Gabe Richardson and junior right handed pitcher Henry Wilkinson were named as the Bulldogs' Preseason Players to Watch.

Richardson had a productive 2024 season for UMD, sitting at first on the team and eighth in the NSIC for total hits (68), while also leading the team and slotting in at ninth in the NSIC for batting average (.384). He also led the Bulldogs from the plate with the most doubles (13) and the highest on-base percentage (.453), all while starting in 47 and appearing in 48 of the team's 49 games. Richardson collected a pair of postseason awards, including a CSC Academic All District nomination and UMD's only NSIC All Conference nomination.

Henry Wilkinson made 10 appearances on the mound for the Bulldogs in 2024, including a shutout performance in their season finale victory. Wilkinson recorded a 5.13 ERA and 50 strikeouts on 54.1 innings pitched, and was named a team captain for the 2025 season.

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Schedule

The 14-team NSIC schedule will feature a variety of four-game, three-game and two-game series during the season, with the schedule format allowing for each team to play every opponent at least twice during the regular season.

All weekday match-ups will be doubleheaders with one seven-inning game and one nine-inning game, with UMD scheduled to play 40 conference games this season.

Looking Ahead

Bulldog baseball will look to play out their postponed series against the University of Sioux Falls Cougars on Saturday, Mar. 8, and Sunday, Mar. 9, before leaving for their annual appearance in the RussMatt Central Florida Invite. Times and locations for the rescheduled series are still to be determined.