The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team split in two games against the University of Sioux Falls Saturday at Sioux Falls Stadium in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Bulldogs dropped game one 9-3 before rebounding for a 10-3 triumph in game two.

Game One, 9-3 UMD Loss
Sioux Falls scored twice in the first inning with a sacrifice fly followed by a run scoring on a wild pitch to take an early 2–0 lead. In the second inning, Troy Lynch put the Bulldogs on the board with a solo home run down the left field line, narrowing the gap to 2–1. 

USF extended its lead with a two-RBI double in the third evening to make it 4–1. UMD fought back in the fourth inning when Logan Myers doubled and Gabe Richardson followed with an RBI double, scoring Myers. Hayden Anthony contributed with a sacrifice fly, bringing Richardson home and closing the score to 6–3 after the Cougars scored two unearned runs in their half of the inning.

USF increased its advantage in the fifth inning with three unearned runs scored, resulting from fielding errors, widening their lead to 9–3. Neither team would add runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

Henry Wilkinson pitched four innings for UMD, allowing six hits and six runs, of which three were earned. He faced 23 batters, striking out one and walking four, while throwing 87 pitches with 52 strikes. Zak Brown relieved Wilkinson, pitching two innings, giving up one hit and three unearned runs. Brown struck out two and walked one, throwing 23 strikes out of 38 pitches. Both pitchers combined for 10 groundouts, contributing defensively to the Bulldogs.

Lynch contributed to the scoring with a solo home run and added a run batted in, while Richardson also provided offensive support, recording a double and driving in a run. Myers added to the team's efforts with a double and scored a run. 

Game Two, 10-3 UMD Win
UMD racked up 12 hits, including five doubles, a triple, and a home run, while holding USF scoreless through the final six innings.

The game began with Sam Kliber getting hit by a pitch and later scoring on a single by Hayden Anthony, putting UMD ahead 1-0 after the first inning. Kliber, who has a season average of 0.5 runs, exceeded expectations by scoring three times during the game. The Cougars tied it at 1-1 in the second inning, and took a 3-1 lead with a two-run home run by Edwards.

In the fourth inning, the Bulldogs responded. Michael Gabbard and Kliber both advanced on a wild pitch, setting up Troy Lynch to draw a walk, scoring Gabbard. Anthony followed with an RBI single to even the score at 3-3.

The seventh inning proved pivotal as UMD broke the game open. After Henry Bushey doubled and the bases were loaded, Logan Myers walked to score Bushey. Gabe Richardson then delivered a three-RBI double, putting the Bulldogs up 7-3.

In the eighth inning, Garrett Stauffacher tripled and scored on a double by Bushey. Nikhil Kandi extended the lead with a two-run homer, making it 10-3. Kandi's home run and double contributed to his season-high total of two RBIs.

UMD's pitching held Sioux Falls scoreless in the final innings, securing a 10-3 victory.

Joe Herrick started on the mound, pitching four 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and allowing three runs on five hits. He threw a total of 82 pitches, facing 21 batters, issuing three walks, and surrendering one home run. Joe Gizzi followed with a solid relief performance, pitching two 1/3 innings without allowing a run, striking out three, which marked a season-high for him, and giving up just one hit. Ayden Lysaght closed the game with two scoreless innings, adding one strikeout to his record while allowing a single hit.

Richardson posted two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs to lead his team in RBIs. Kandi contributed a home run and a double, tallying two RBIs and scoring once, while Kliber crossed the plate three times and recorded four assists defensively. Gabbard's stellar defensive performance included a season-high of four fielding assists.

UMD now has an overall record of 7-19 and 6-8 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.