And with that, the non-conference slate is over. Another new season begins.

The University of Minnesota Duluth finished its non-conference portion of its schedule with two more victories on Thursday to improve to 20-8 overall with Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action barring down roughly a week and half away. The Bulldogs capped off THE Spring Games in Clermont, Fla., with a 5-2 win over Saint Martin's Univeristy and a 6-2 victory over Purdue University Northwest.

Sophomore pitcher Maddy Walsh provided an excellent performance in the circle to improve to 5-0. Walsh came in relief and shut down the Saints, who left 12 runners on base, which tied a season-high runners stranded by UMD. Walsh pitched the final four innings, giving up four hits and three walks but didn't allow a single runner to score.

Saint Martin's burst out to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning but the Bulldogs responded with five unanswered runs. They did it against the Saints' ace, Chloe Leverington, who suffered her first loss of the season. Leverington came into today with a 8-0 record and one save. UMD was able to swat her stuff in the circle with nine hits, the second most hits Leverington has allowed this spring. 

Senior infielder Nicole Schmitt cut the lead in half on her solo shot -- her team-leading ninth home run -- to lead off the second. Junior catcher Kendal Jenkins doubled right after Schmitt and she would score on an RBI single by freshman Taryn Christopher. Christopher tied the game as she has provided some support with her bat as of late. The Kaukauna, Wis., native has hits in four of the last five games and she has tallied four RBI over that span. 

It wouldn't be until the top of the sixth when the Bulldogs struck again, this time to grab the lead. Sophomore outfielder Emma Ambroz put UMD ahead 4-2 on her base knock to right. Schmitt scored from second and Jenkins raced all away around undetected as Ambroz got caught in a rundown. Junior outfielder Morgan McMillan tacked on the final insurance run in the seventh as she ripped a double to left field. McMillan finished her Florida trip going 12-for-26 (team-high .462 average) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBI and a blistering seven steals.

Junior pitcher Allyssa Williams grabbed her team-leading eighth win against the Pride. The Yuba City, Calif., native gave up two runs on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out five. The Bulldogs defeated the Pride for the second time this season after dispatching them 10-8 back on Feb. 21 in Chicago. 

McMillan scored the first run as she walked and stole one of her seven bases allowing Jenkins to drive her in with a single to right. Schmitt extended the lead in the third inning trickling a double on the left field line, scoring Ambroz and McMillan. Sophomore outfielder Sierra Thomas got in on the action as she pounded a single into left as well to extend the advantage to 4-0. 

The Pride cut that advantage in half with a 2-RBI single that just got past the diving attempt by Christopher. The following half-inning, Christopher made sure she didn't miss in her at-bat. She rocketed a single to right to start a fourth-inning rally of their own. Sophomore outfielder Noelle Krumrie legged out a slap single and Ambroz walked to load the bases. McMillan hit a sac fly and sophomore catcher Serena Timmer plated one on her RBI single to push the lead back to four.

UMD cracked eight hits against Purdue Northwest with eight different players posting a base hit.

NSIC play begins Saturday, March 22 as the Bulldogs, who went 5-3 in THE Spring Games, host Winona State University for their conference and home opener. First pitch of the double header with the Warriors starts at 12:00 p.m.