The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team dropped its first four games in Florida on Tuesday in Davenport, Fla. and in Winter Haven, Fla. on Wednesday.

Tuesday, Game 1, UMD 4, Ashland 9

UMD fell to Ashland University with a final score of 9-4 in a neutral-site matchup on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs and and Eagles ended the first inning scoreless, but the second inning saw both teams get on the board. Chris Franks doubled and scored for Ashland on Sam Witt's RBI single. The Bulldogs responded when Henry Bushey scored on a pitching error, tying the game 1-1 after two innings.

In the third inning, UMD took the lead when Caid Chittum delivered a two-RBI single to bring home Gabe Richardson and Garrett Stauffacher – Chittum's first two RBI game this season. Ashland closed the gap with Nate King's RBI double, making it 3-2 in favor of the Bulldogs through three innings.

The scoring paused until the seventh inning when the Eagles' Collin Overholt hit a two-run homer, putting Ashland ahead 4-3 after seven innings.

The Bulldogs were unable to score in the eighth inning, while Ashland extended its lead in the ninth. Ryan Shimek and Chris Franks each hit two-run homers, and Billy Howard added a double. Sean Krueckeberg's single allowed Howard to score, increasing Ashland's lead. Chittum scored for UMD on Logan Myers' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough. Logan Myers also recorded a season-high total of 13 putouts. Ashland secured the win with a final score of 9-4.

Joe Herrick pitched six and 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits, including two doubles and one home run. He threw a season-high eight strikeouts and just one walk over 103 pitches, with 68 of those being strikes. Darren Loyola entered in relief, pitching one 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits and one home run while striking out three. Loyola faced 11 batters and recorded 25 strikes out of a season-high 40 pitches.

Chittum led the team with three hits, setting a new season high, and two RBIs, also adding a stolen base. Stauffacher recorded two hits and scored a run, contributing a stolen base to his stat line. Bushey added two stolen bases, while also scoring a run.

Tuesday, Game 2, UMD 2, Cal (PA) 15

UMD opened the scoring in the first inning when Gabe Richardson's single to center field allowed Logan Myers to score. However, California University of Pennsylvania responded with seven runs in their half, including an RBI single by Evans and a two-run single by McClain-Banks. The inning concluded with UMD trailing 7-1.

In the second inning, the Bulldogs' offense was quiet, while California University of Pennsylvania extended its lead. Evans scored on a fielder's choice, and a passed ball allowed another run. Kuszaj's advance on an error brought the score to 10-1 at the end of the inning.

UMD saw another scoreless inning in the third, while California University of Pennsylvania added four more runs, highlighted by Helwich's two-run double. After three innings, the score was 14-1.

The Bulldogs managed to add a run in the fifth inning. Caden Klebba walked, advanced on a single by Myers, and scored on a walk to Troy Lynch, making it 14-2. Notably, Klebba also totaled a season-high of four putouts during the game.

In the sixth inning, the Vulcans added two more runs, one scoring on a single by Nuttridge and another on a fielder's choice, concluding the inning with a 16-2 lead. 

The game ended without further scoring, resulting in a 16-2 defeat for the Bulldogs.

Cal Smith started on the mound for UMD, pitching one and 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits, ten runs, eight earned runs, and three walks while striking out one. Smith posted a season-high total of 62 pitches during his time on the mound. Chase Eiden relieved and contributed two and  1/3 innings, giving up four hits and one unearned run, with two walks. Eiden registered a season-high of 47 pitches thrown in his appearance. Austin Lahti closed the game with one and  2/3 innings, yielding four hits, four runs, three earned, alongside two walks and two strikeouts. The pitching staff faced a challenging outing, collectively throwing 151 pitches over five innings.

Logan Myers scored a run and added a stolen base, contributing to the offensive efforts. Richardson recorded an RBI with his hit, while Lynch drew a walk and drove in a run, showcasing his ability to capitalize on scoring situations. Sam Kliber hit a double, marking his one hit of the game and adding to the team's total base hits.

Game Notes:

- Nikhil Kandi recorded a season-high total of 4 putouts.

Wednesday, Game 3, UMD 7, St. Cloud State 16

UMD tallied 10 hits, including three doubles and a home run, but five defensive errors contributed to the defeat. Despite the loss, the team recorded a season-high 13 fielding assists in the game, showcasing their defensive efforts.

UMD started strong in the first inning with Logan Myers walking and Troy Lynch hitting a single to left field. Garrett Stauffacher followed with an RBI single, scoring Myers. Hayden Anthony then doubled to right field, bringing Lynch home and giving UMD a 2-0 lead. St. Cloud State responded with two runs, tying the score at 2-2 by the end of the first inning.

In the fourth inning, the Bulldogs added two more runs. Michael Reem walked and Caid Chittum followed with a walk. Sam Kliber doubled to center field, driving in both Reem and Chittum, narrowing the deficit to 12-4. Kliber recorded a season-high two runs batted in, highlighting his contribution to the team's offense.The Huskies, however, extended their  lead with six runs, ending the inning at 12-4.

UMD cut into the lead again in the fifth inning. Anthony hit a two-run homer to left field, scoring Stauffacher and bringing the score to 13-6 after St. Cloud State added another run.

In the sixth inning, the Bulldogs scored once more. Chittum, who scored a season-high twice in the game, walked, and Kliber singled to center, advancing him to second. Lynch grounded out but brought in Chittum, making the score 13-7. SCSU remained scoreless in the bottom half.

The eighth inning saw the Huskies add three runs, concluding the game with a final score of 16-7 in favor of St. Cloud State.

Zak Brown started for UMD, pitching three and 1/3 innings with eight hits allowed, resulting in 10 runs, although only seven were earned. Brown also recorded four walks and two strikeouts over a season-high 89 pitches, with 48 strikes. He also achieved a season-high of two fielding assists. Chase Eiden relieved Brown, pitching one and 2/3 innings, conceding four hits and three earned runs, while striking out two without issuing a walk. Alex Boston finished the game, delivering a strong performance on three innings pitched for the first time this season. He allowed four hits and three runs, two of which were earned, and notched three strikeouts swinging for the first time this season alongside three walks. Boston also threw a season-high of 70 pitches and recorded a season-high total of four ground outs.

Kliber recorded two hits and drove in two runs, showcasing his effectiveness at the plate. Anthony contributed with a home run and three RBIs, adding a double to his performance. Chittum crossed the plate twice,while  Lynch added a hit, a run, a walk and an RBI, highlighting his presence in the lineup.

Richardson registered a season-high 11 putouts and achieved at least two hits in three consecutive games.

Game Notes:

- Richardson registered a season-high 11 putouts and achieved at least two hits in three consecutive games.

Wednesday, Game 4, UMD 5, Cal (PA) 11

*No stats currently exist for this game