The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team won one of four in the final two days of the Branson Spring Games, facing William Jewell College on Wednesday and Missouri University of Science and Technology on Thursday.
 
Wednesday, Game 1, UMD 12, WJ 4
 
On Wednesday, UMD secured a decisive 12-4 victory over William Jewell College, highlighted by a six-run third inning that set the tone for the game.
 
In the first inning, UMD took an early lead as Daphne Evans walked and stole second, followed by a single from Morgan McMillan. Sierra Thomas then doubled, driving in Evans and McMillan, ending the inning with a 3-0 lead for UMD.
 
The third inning saw a significant offensive push from the Bulldogs, with Kendal Jenkins hitting a triple to bring in McMillan, Evans, and Emma Ambroz. Thomas added to the tally with a single, scoring Jenkins and concluding the inning with a 9-1 lead for UMD.
 
In the fifth inning, Jenkins walked and later scored on a single by Khendal Johnson, with Thomas and Ava Johnson also contributing with RBI singles, pushing the final lead to 12-4.
 
Allyssa Williams pitched a complete game for Minnesota Duluth, recording five strikeouts over five innings. She allowed eight hits and four earned runs, with no walks issued to opposing batters.
 
Wednesday, Game 2, UMD 2, WJ 3
 
In a close contest, UMD narrowly fell to William Jewell College with a final score of 3-2.
 
Ava Johnson opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run. Paige Johnson doubled and was brought home by a single from Serena Timmer, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring off a passed ball to make it 2-1.
 
William Jewell tied the game in the third inning with a sacrifice fly, and the score remained unchanged through the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, keeping the tie at 2-2.
 
In the seventh inning, the Cardinals took the lead on a single, and UMD could not respond in their half of the inning, resulting in a final score of 3-2.
 
Thursday, Game 1, UMD 4, Missouri S&T 5
 
UMD narrowly fell to the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a final score of 5-4.
 
By the second inning, Missouri S&T took an early lead with a two-run homer, ending the second inning at 2-0.
 
The fourth inning saw more action as the Miners extended their lead with a three-run home run, making it 5-0. UMD responded in the bottom of the inning with Morgan McMillan scoring on a single by Ava Johnson, closing the gap to 5-1.
 
In the sixth inning, Kendal Jenkins and Sierra Thomas both scored on an error, narrowing the score to 5-3. Serena Timmer homered in the seventh inning, adding a run for the Bulldogs, but they could not push across any more runs, resulting in the final score of 5-4 in favor of the Miners.
 
Allyssa Williams pitched a complete game, throwing seven innings for the Bulldogs against the Miners. She allowed six hits and five earned runs while striking out four batters and walking three. Despite giving up two home runs, she induced 11 groundouts and six flyouts.
 
Sylvia pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit while striking out two and walking four. Ashley Mandell took over for four innings, surrendering one earned run on three hits and walking four, as the pitching staff combined for a total of four strikeouts and eight walks throughout the game.
 
Thursday, Game 2, UMD 2, Missouri S&T 7
 
In the final match of the Branson Spring Games, UMD fell again to Missouri S&T, this time with a score of 7-2.
 
By the second inning, Missouri S&T capitalized on a fielding error to load the bases and scored on a home run to right field, driving in four runs and ending the inning with a 5-0 lead.
 
The Miners extended their lead in the fifth inning with their second home run of the day to left field, making it 6-0.
 
UMD got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning when Sierra Thomas reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on an error, allowing Ava Johnson to bring her home with a single to right field.
 
However, the Miners answered with a triple and a groundout RBI, maintaining a 7-1 lead. UMD added another run in the seventh inning with Morgan McMillan's single, but ultimately fell 7-2.
 
Sylvia pitched four innings for UMD, allowing five runs on three hits, including one home run, while striking out five and walking five batters. Ashley Mandell entered in relief, pitching two innings and conceding two runs on three hits, with a home run and a triple among them.
 
The Bulldogs open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) competition on March 21st against Wayne State College.