The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team wrapped up play Friday in Wayne, Neb. with two wins and a loss against Wayne State College at the Pete Chapman Complex. The left over inning from the suspended game Thursday ended in a 7-4 win for the Bulldogs, while the final Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game of the four games ended as the lone loss to the Wildcats, a 11-9 setback. In game four, UMD bounced back for a 12-5 triumph over WSC and the 3-1 record in Nebraska.

Game Two 7-4 Win (suspended from Thursday due to darkness) 

The game started on Thursday when UMD jumped out to an early lead with a four-run first inning and maintained its advantage throughout the game.

The Bulldogs began the game by scoring four runs in the first inning. Sam Kliber singled to right field, and Joey Flom walked, followed by Gabe Richardson hit by a pitch to load the bases. Troy Lynch's single to left field brought in the first run, and Thomas Hanson added another with a sacrifice fly. Henry Bushey then tripled to center field, driving in two more runs, marking the third consecutive game he's hit in at least two RBIs. UMD led 4-0 after the first inning.

In the fifth inning, the Bulldogs extended their lead. Michael Reem singled up the middle, and after a fielder's choice, Richardson doubled to left field, scoring Flom. Lynch followed with a single to right center, driving in Richardson to push UMD's run advantage to 6-1 after the fifth inning.

WSC closed the gap with two runs in the seventh inning. A wild pitch advanced runners, and a groundout followed by a single brought in two runs for the Wildcats, but UMD still held a 6-4 lead after seven innings. 

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the ninth. Kliber reached on an error and was replaced by pinch runner Jacob Haughton, who advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Flom's double to left center. Flom's contribution included a season-high two runs in the game, and UMD's defense did the rest, holding WSC scoreless in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 7-4 victory on Friday.

Ryan Wattermann pitched six innings, allowed four hits and two earned runs while he struck out five and walked three, to earn the win with 100 pitches. Joe Gizzi contributed one and 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs all while recording a season-high total of 29 pitches. Caden Klebba pitched 2/3 of an inning without conceding a run, allowing one hit and one walk. Darren Loyola secured the save with a one-inning effort, giving up just one hit and recording one strikeout without allowing a run.

Hayden Anthony recorded a season-high total of six putouts in an impressive defensive performance.

Game Three, 11-9 Loss to WSC

In a tense 11-9 decision on Friday at the Pete Chapman Complex, UMD tallied a season-high six doubles and a triple among its 12 hits, but five errors proved costly in the closely contested matchup.

UMD faced an early deficit when WSC scored three runs in the first inning. A throwing error and a hit by pitch set the stage for two unearned runs on a single by Monosmith, followed by another unearned run on an error, giving Wayne State a 3-0 lead after one inning.

In the second inning, UMD got on the board when Logan Myers singled through the left side, driving in Garrett Stauffacher, who went on to score a season-high three runs in the game. However, the Wildcats widened their lead with a three-run homer by Monosmith and a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 7-1 after two innings.

WSC added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly to make it 8-1, but the Bulldogs' bats came alive in the fifth inning. Troy Lynch, who scored a season-high two runs, and Gabe Richardson each contributed RBI hits, while Stauffacher and Henry Bushey added RBI doubles, narrowing the gap to 8-6 after five innings.

In the sixth, a fielding error allowed the Wildcats to score again to make it 9-6. UMD continued its comeback in the seventh inning, when Lynch tripled and scored on a single by Stauffacher. A throwing error later allowed two more runs to score, pulling UMD within a single run at 10-9.

WSC responded, however,  in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run by Cunningham, and Prychak's homer in the eighth inning extended Wayne State's lead to 11-9.

UMD was unable to score in the final innings, resulting in WSC's lone triumph of the trip with a 11-9.

Jalen Pascal started on the mound for the Bulldogs, pitching one 1/3 innings while allowing four earned runs on four hits, including one home run, and recording one strikeout. Ayden Lysaght followed, pitching one 2/3 innings, conceding one earned run on one hit and three walks, with a wild pitch and a hit batter. Liam Kruse pitched two innings, allowing one earned run on two hits, with four walks and one strikeout. Brady Schornstein and Sam Kliber combined for one inning of scoreless relief, and Jacob Haughton and Cal Smith each pitched one inning, with Smith throwing a season-high total of 28 pitches, though both surrendered one earned run on one hit, with Haughton struck out two and gave up a home run.

Lynch led the team with two hits, including a triple, and scored twice while driving in one run. Hayden Anthony scored one run despite going hitless in five at-bats, while Richardson contributed with a double and two RBIs, to mark a season-high, adding one run to his tally. Stauffacher recorded two hits, a double, and two RBIs while crossing the plate three times.
Notable: Henry Bushey recorded a season-high three hits in the game.

Game Four, 12-5 UMD Win

UMD secured a decisive 12-5 victory over WSC in the final game Friday behind a nine-run second inning highlighted UMD's offensive performance. The team recorded a season-high of 12 runs in the game.

The Bulldogs opened strong with two runs in the first inning. Sam Kliber and Hayden Anthony both walked, and Gabe Richardson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Garrett Stauffacher was also hit, which brought home Kliber. Henry Bushey followed with a walk to score Anthony, and fter a pop-up from Thomas Hanson, Michael Reem reached on a fielder's choice to end the inning with a 2-0 UMD lead.

The second inning saw an offensive surge from UMD, who scored nine runs. Michael Gabbard singled to start, followed by a single from Kliber. Anthony's single scored Gabbard, and a fielding error loaded the bases. Richardson then doubled, clearing the bases for three more run  and a season-high total of three runs batted in. Stauffacher's single added another run, marking his second consecutive game with at least two RBIs, and Bushey's single brought home Stauffacher. A wild pitch allowed another run, and Anthony's double capped the scoring at nine for the inning. WSC responded with four runs in their half of the inning, but the Bulldogs maintained an 11-4 lead.

In the fourth inning, UMD added another run when Reem advanced to third on a fielding error and scored on Anthony's sacrifice fly. The Tigers answered with a run off a ground out, to make it 12-5 score.

The remaining innings saw no further scoring from either team, securing the 12-5 win for the Bulldogs. UMD achieved at least nine hits for the fourth consecutive game.

UMD's pitching staff delivered a mixed performance – Michael Foley pitched four innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs, and striking out two. He achieved a season-high of six ground outs while also throwing a season-high 67 pitches. Blake Eiden provided a solid relief appearance, pitching one inning without allowing any hits or runs. Zak Brown contributed two innings of shutout relief, surrendering only one hit and striking out three batters.

Anthony recorded three hits, including a double, and drove in three runs while also crossing the plate twice. Richardson contributed with one hit and three RBIs, adding a double to his performance, while Kliber scored three runs, utilizing two walks to get on base to achieve a season-high of three runs. Bushey registered a season-high four fielding assists, and Richardson also achieved a season-high of two fielding assists.

UMD (3-5 overall, 2-4 in NSCI play) will return to competition next weekend when they travel to Rogers State University in Claremore, Oka. to face Hillcats in a pair of doubleheaders that begin Friday and wrap up Saturday.