THE OPENING PITCH: The University of Minnesota Duluth will host Northern State  University and Minnesota State University-Moorhead on the final homestand of the regular season. The Bulldogs will honor their seniors on Friday versus the Wolves. That doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturday against the Dragons, UMD will host Alumnae Day including the remembrance of Bulldog alum Mandy Matula with action on the diamond beginning at 12:00 p.m. to wrap up the weekend festivities at James S. Malosky Stadium.

SCOUTING REPORT ON NORTHERN STATE: The Wolves are 10-31 overall and 4-16 in the NSIC this season. They dropped their doubleheader on the road against Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday. The Mustangs defeated the Wolves 3-2 and 11-5 to complete the sweep. Last season, Northern State went 25-24 and finished 10th in the NSIC. Kaley Ness is in her eighth season and first with the Wolves. She has a 10-31 record with Northern State and a career 113-241 record.

NSU is averaging 3.85 runs per game and is batting a collective .272 at the plate. Six Wolves are batting above .300 this season with Madi Jones leading the club, hitting .352.  Aune Boben and Emma Owens lead the team in RBIs. The duo each have 24 RBI this season as five Wolves have at least 18 RBI or more. Boban leads the team with six homers. Abby Rux and Boben will take the circle in the doubleheader. Rux is 7-17 with a 5.43 ERA in 21 starts. She has the two shutouts for the Wolves this season. She has 87 strikeouts to 48 walks in 139.1 innings. Boban is 1-12 in 17 starts with a 10.08 ERA in 68.1 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT ON MSU-MOORHEAD: The Dragons are 14-33 and 6-14 in the NSIC this spring. They have lost four straight coming into the weekend including also dropping a doubleheader to Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. The Mustangs blanked the Dragons twice, with an 8-0 shutout in game one and a 3-0 shutout in game two. MSU-Moorhead went 33-19 last season and finished fourth in the NSIC. Vanessa Kellems is the head coach in her first season with the Dragons and third overall after spending the first two at Westcliff and has a 38-90 record.

MSUM is averaging 3.27 runs per game and is batting .270 on the season. Avery Steffen paces the team, hitting .394 with a team-high 61 hits and a team-high 23 stolen bases. Annika Norman and Eliya Johnson each have a team leading 21 RBI. Norman is the only other player hitting over .300 with a .343 batting average. Johnson leads the Dragons with four home runs. MSUM is using three main pitchers this season with Teagan Clemmons as the team's ace. Clemmons is 4-9 with a 4.04 ERA in 16 starts. She has 88 strikeouts, 30 walks and is allowing an opposing batting average of .296. Steffen is in the circle as she has a 4-8 record with a 4.41 ERA in 10 starts. She has worked 73.0 innings with 77 strikeouts and a .272 opposing batting average. 

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and its opponents stack up with its respective records this season, its records in the NSIC, and how each team has done in its last 10 contests.
 

TEAM	RECORD	NSIC	LAST 10
UMD	31-15	11-7	7-3
NSU	10-31	4-16	3-7
MSUM	14-33	6-14	4-6

HOW THEY FARED: The Bulldogs have dominated the Wolves winning eight straight games and 12 of the last 13 contests. UMD will host Northern State in Duluth for the first time since the 2018 season when the Bulldogs won both games (14-2 and 10-0) in five innings. Northern State last defeated UMD 5-4 in Aberdeen, S.D. back on April 10, 2019.

The Bulldogs have had similar success against the Dragons. UMD split its most recent series with MSU-Moorhead last season but the Bulldogs have won nine of the last 10 and  have won 20 of the last 23 contests dating all the way back to 2013. UMD last lost to the Dragons at home on March, 29, 2016 when they dropped the second game of the double header 5-4.

SENIOR SALUTE: Three Bulldogs -- Allison Luoma, Cora Meier and Nicole Schmitt -- will make their final appearances at home as the trio will be honored this Friday as part of Senior Day. Those three have gathered an impressive team resume during their Bulldog tenures, accounting for 151 wins, an NSIC Tournament Championship, and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

LAST PLATE APPEARANCE: The Bulldogs went 3-3 last week but finished strong winning their last three. UMD lost its home doubleheader to St. Cloud State on Tuesday. The Huskies won 6-4 and 13-4. Minnesota State split with the Bulldogs on Saturday. The Mavericks found a way to force extra innings in game one and walked-off UMD 7-4. The Bulldogs took game two in convincing fashion, winning 15-6 in five innings. Finally, UMD swept the University of Sioux Falls last Sunday with an offensive barrage. The Bulldogs scored a combined 31 runs in the sweep of the Cougars. USF lost 18-9 and 13-5 in six innings.

BULLDOGS IN THE HUNT FOR NCAA CENTRAL REGION BID: The NCAA released the first of three regional rankings on Wednesday and the Bulldogs were one of 10 teams considered. Numerical rankings will be released the following two weeks to give a clearer indication where UMD stands in its search for its 11th national tournament appearance.

The NCAA Central Region is made up of 40 teams spanning across three conferences, those from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC). Eight teams will qualify for the NCAA Tournament with automatic bids awarded to the tournament champions from each conference and the final five spots awarded on an at-large basis.
 

TEAM	RECORD	IN-REGION
Augustana (NSIC)	37-9	34-8
Central Oklahoma (MIAA)	37-6	33-6
Harding (GAC)	34-11	30-9
Minnesota Duluth (NSIC)	31-15	24-14
Minnesota State (NSIC)	34-14	25-12
Pittsburg St. (MIAA)	33-11	29-9
Rogers St. (MIAA)	32-11	30-8
Southern Arkansas (GAC)	35-5	34-4
Washburn (MIAA)	29-18	23-16
Winona State (NSIC)	32-11	24-8

30 FOR 15: The Bulldogs have won at least 30 games in 15 straight seasons -- not counting the shortened 2020 season -- dating back to 2009. UMD will finish with an above .500 record --again not accounting for the 2020 season --  for the 19th straight season.

NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES: Senior infielder Nicole Schmitt and junior outfielder Morgan McMillan have each been bestowed as NSIC Player of the Week award winners this season, both for the first times in their careers. Schmitt was named the player of the week twice (Feb. 4 and Feb. 10) and McMillan nabbed the honor back on March 10. UMD had three of the first six NSIC Player of the Week recipients this spring – the first team to accomplish the feat since St. Cloud State had three separate winners in the first five weeks of the 2019 season.

In addition, the duo were the first Bulldogs 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, Schmitt was the first Bulldog since Sidney Zavoral to earn the Player of the Week accolade, earning that distinction back on Feb. 14, 2023. 

A PROGRAM FIRST?: The latest individual award stands out as a major accomplishment as it is (a believed) first time in program history -- going back at least 20 years -- the Bulldogs have received back-to-back NSIC Player of the Week recognition. Lauren Dixon did grab NSIC Pitcher of the Week accolades in three consecutive weeks during the 2023 season (4/4, 4/11, and 4/18).

WELCOME HOME: UMD has only played in six home games this season. That mark is tied for the 10th fewest home contests in all of Division II this season. Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State are also represented in the top 10.

DOUBLE UP: The Bulldogs lead the NSIC in doubles this season with 79. That mark is also 19th in the nation. Five Bulldogs -- junior catcher Kendal Jenkins, sophomore infielder Serena Timmer, junior outfielder Morgan McMillan, senior infielder Nicole Schmitt, and sophomore infielder Khendal Johnson -- have at least 10 doubles this spring. 

HOME RUN DERBY: The Bulldogs have registered multiple home runs in the last four games. UMD hit a season-high four home runs against Minnesota State in the final game of the doubleheader on April 12 during that four-game stretch.

SWEET SIXTEEN: It was raining hits last time out against Sioux Falls. UMD accounted for 16 hits in both games of its doubleheader against the Cougars, a season best. It was the most hits collected in a single game dating back to Feb. 11, 2023 when the Bulldogs posted 17 hits versus Bemidji State in a 16-0 shutout.

RUN AWAY: In the last three games UMD has put up 46 runs on 43 hits. The 46 runs during a three-game stint are the most runs by the Bulldogs dating back to the 2018 season when UMD put up 46 runs with run outings of 10, 14, and 22 in consecutive games. 

RUN AWAY II: UMD put up 15 runs on Minnesota State in the finale and followed up with 18 runs in the opener versus Sioux Falls. Those 33 runs in back-to-back games are the most dating back to April 11, 2021 when the Bulldogs put up that exact total in the double header sweep of the U-Mary. Oddly, UMD also put up 18 runs that day which was the last time they put up that many runs in a single game.

TO SIX RUNS AND BEYOND!: The Bulldogs this season are 21-1 when scoring at least six runs. The lone setback came against Winona State in the NSIC and home opener. UMD has won its last six contests when getting to the magical six run mark.

GET AHEAD EARLY: UMD has scored first in 32 of the 46 games this season. When scoring first, the club is 25-7 in such games and 16-3 when scoring in the first inning this season. 

SHIVER ME TIMMER: Sophomore infielder Serena Timmer had every batter's dream scenario in the most recent doubleheader. The Appleton, Wis. native crushed Cougar pitching as she went a combined 6-for-8 with four doubles, a home run -- her third of the season -- to go along with six RBI and seven runs in the double header. She notched a 4-for-4 day at the plate in the opener where she posted career bests in RBI (five) and runs (five). Both were also Bulldog season highs this season. Timmer also became the second Bulldog to compile four hits in a game.

STEPPING UP TO THE COMPETITION: Sophomore infielder Khendal Johnson has played her best ball during conference play. Johnson is hitting .377 (20-for-53) with five doubles, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBI.

COMING IN CLUTCH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ORDER: Freshman infielder Taryn Christopher has made the most of her opportunities despite hitting in the No. 8 spot. Christoper is tied for the team lead in RBIs in NSIC play with 13 in 10 at-bats fewer than her teammates. The Kaukauna, Wis. native is hitting .357 with runners in scoring position and a team leading seven RBI with two outs in league action. 

HOME SWEET HOME: Sophomore outfielder Noelle Krumrie holds the best batting average among her teammates at home this season. Krumrie is hitting .583 (7-for-12) at the plate with a triple and three runs.  She also sports the best on-base percentage as well at .615. 

100 BASE KNOCKS: Last Saturday in Mankato, Minn., junior outfielder Morgan McMillan gathered her 100th hit of her career on a home run in backend of the doubleheader blowout against the Mavericks. 

200 BASE KNOCKS: Last Tuesday, senior infielder Nicole Schmitt became the latest Bulldog to achieve 200 career base hits. Schmitt ripped a single in the St. Cloud State  opener for her 61st hit of the season, a new single season best. The last Bulldog to achieve the benchmark was Jordyn Thomas, who notched 240 hits during her five-year tenure.

SCHMITT CHASING PROGRAM RECORDS (HR EDITION): The breakout senior season continues for Nicole Schmitt. She is approaching the single-season program record for home runs held by Jessica Bren. Bren crushed a record 16 home runs during her freshman campaign back in 2018. Schmitt currently has 14 homers to her season resume and needs two home runs to share the program record. 

SCHMITT CHASING PROGRAM RECORDS (RBI EDITION): Not only is the home run record within view but senior infielder Nicole Schmitt is closing in on the single-season RBI record held by Becky Smith. The 2018 NFCA All-American amassed 67 RBI during her final season in 2018. Schmitt currently has 58 RBI this season and is nine away from tying Smith.

HITTING THEIR STRIDE: The sophomore tandem of infielder Serena Timmer and outfielder Noelle Krumrie each have a six-game hitting streak entering the weekend. Those hitting streaks are both season and career bests, and are leading UMD for the longest current hitting streak.

WILL CALL: Junior pitcher Allyssa Williams has been on a roll in the circle. Williams has won six of the last seven starts. The Yuba City, Calif. native has five complete games and a shutout during that stretch. Williams has a 35-to-8 strikeout to walk ratio  including a nine strikeout shutout performance against Concordia-St. Paul.

PUNCHOUT MILESTONE: Senior pitcher Allison Luoma needs five more strikeouts to reach the 100-strikeout milestone. She currently sits second on the team with 95.

PUNCHOUT MILESTONE II: Junior pitcher Allyssa Williams needs three strikeouts to hit triple digit strikeouts on the season. Williams has fanned a season-high 97 batters this season which has more than doubled her previous two seasons combined. 

WIN NO. 25 IN REACH: In addition, junior pitcher Allyssa Williams needs one more win to collect her 25th career victory. This season, she has been a steady hand on the backend of doubleheaders with a 14-7 record. Her 14 wins leads the team.

THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME: Head Coach 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.

CLOSING IN A MILESTONE: Additionally, Head Coach Nat Wagner needs nine more wins to hit his 100th career coaching victory as a head coach.

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 finish up the regular season with road doubleheaders against the University of Mary and Minot State University next weekend.