In its first doubleheader of the 2026 season, the University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team was swept in its opening Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games against No. 25 Augustana University at Ronken Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. by a score of 12-3 in game one and 9-4 in game two.

 

Game One, 12-3 UMD Loss

In game one, UMD's offense was highlighted by a two-run homer in the fifth inning.

 

The Vikings initially took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Heinsch homered to left field. They extended their lead to 2-0 in the fifth with Koskie's triple setting up an RBI single by Schmelzle.

 

The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the fifth inning when Gabe Richardson homered to left center, putting the Bulldogs on the board. Hayden Anthony later scored on a single by Thomas Hanson, tying the game at 2-2 after the fifth inning.

 

Augustana seized control in the sixth inning, scoring seven runs, which included a two-run homer from T. Berg and a three-run shot by K. Eikmeier. The hometown visitors added three more runs in the seventh inning, solidifying a lead UMD could not recover from, and the game concluded with Augustana securing a 12-2 victory.

 

Henry Wilkinson delivered a solid start for UMD, pitching five innings while striking out six batters and allowing four earned runs on seven hits. Despite his efforts, Wilkinson conceded two home runs during his outing. Blake Eiden and Zak Brown faced challenges in relief, combining for two innings and surrendering eight earned runs. Eiden allowed four earned runs, including one hit batter, over 2/3 of an inning, while Brown gave up four earned runs in 1 1/3 innings with two walks and one hit batter.

 

Richardson recorded a home run, contributing one run and one RBI, while Anthony added a hit and scored a run in his three at-bats. Hanson finished with an RBI, delivering a clutch hit with runners in scoring position. Sam Kliber collected a hit in three appearances, also reaching base with runners on.

 

Game Two, 9-4 UMD Loss

The Bulldogs had nine hits in the second game, and opened the game with a solid first inning, scoring two runs on three hits and capitalizing on a Augustana defensive error. Joey Flom singled and later scored on Gabe Richardson's RBI single, which was followed by an error that allowed another run that put UMD up 2-1 after the first inning.

 

In the second inning, Thomas Hanson singled and advanced to third on a balk before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Flom, increasing the Bulldogs' lead. By the end of the second inning, the score was Bulldogs 3, Vikings 2.

The VIkings blew the game open in the sixth inning and scored five runs, including a grand slam by Lundquist. This offensive surge put the Vikings ahead, with the score 7-3 in favor of the Vikings after the six.

 

In the eighth inning, the Bulldogs managed to bring in another run. Richardson singled and was replaced by pinch runner Jacob Haughton, who later scored on a wild pitch. Despite this effort, the score UMD still trailed 9-4 after eight innings.

 

UMD's attempt in the ninth inning featured two singles but no additional runs, resulting in the 9-4 final.

 

Ryan Wattermann pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, while striking out two and walking two. Joe Gizzi faced three batters without recording an out, giving up three earned runs on one hit, including a home run, and two walks. Liam Kruse contributed 2 1/3 innings of relief, yielding two earned runs on one hit and two walks. Cal Smith closed with a scoreless inning, allowing no hits and issuing one walk.

 

UMD (0-2, 0-2 NSIC) and Augustana (6-0, 5-0 NSIC) will do it all over again tomorrow afternoon, with game one an NSIC game, and the second game of the matinee going down as a non-conference outing. Game one will get underway at 12:00 p.m. on Ronken Field.

BULLDOG NOTES: Three players had three hit days – Thomas Hanson, Gabe Richardson and Joey Flom … Richardson led all UMD players with two RBIS and had the lone home run … Henry Wilkinson led all pitchers with six strikeouts in five innings pitched