OPENING PITCH: The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team hosts its first doubleheader on campus with a Thursday set against the University of Minnesota Crookston before heading back on the road Sunday to face Minnesota State University Moorhead. The first doubleheader is set to begin at 2:00 p.m., with the Sunday road matchup beginning at 12:00 p.m.
 
HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD stacks up with its conference opponents.
 

TEAM	2025 RECORD (CONF.)	2026 RECORD	POLL
UMD	39-17 (18-8)	22-17 (7-9)	4th (NSIC)
UMC	20-34 (8-18)	11-30 (5-11)	14th (NSIC)
MSUM	20-37 (11-17)	5-34 (3-13)	11th (NSIC)

 
SCOUTING MINNESOTA CROOKSTON: Leading the batting effort is Emily Kalina. In 121 at-bats, she has a .314 batting average and .405 slugging percentage with 19 RBIs, 38 hits, 19 runs, seven doubles, and two triples. On the mound, they are led by Charlotte Dombrowski, who has a 5-6 record in 68.1 innings pitched. She has a 3.48 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 34 earned runs, allowing a .299 batting average. 
 
SCOUTING MSUM: One of their top threats is Lexie Wilson. In 98 at-bats, she has a .327 batting average and a .367 slugging percentage with 32 hits, 8 runs, 12 RBIs, and four doubles. On the mound, Brynna Farman has a 1-12 record with a 4.45 ERA in 72.1 innings pitched. She has 54 strikeouts, allowing only a .304 batting average.
 
EVANS EARNS TWO NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS: Daphne Evans of the UMD softball team has claimed two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Player of the Week selections in her first season as a Bulldog.
 
The freshman outfielder from Chanhassen, Minn., claims the honor after helping the team to a 4-1 start in their first week of competition and leads the NSIC as the top batter. In that span, she hit .556 (10 for 18), owned a .600 on-base percentage, and a 1.000 slugging percentage for an OPS of 1.600.
 
Throughout the week, she tallied a hit in all five outings, with three hits in the season opener against Eastern New Mexico University and three against Rockhurst University. At the plate, she drove in six RBIs with two doubles and two home runs. Out in the field, she tallied her first career putouts with eight total, keeping a clean 1.000 fielding percentage.
 
Evans, a freshman outfielder from Chanhassen, Minn., claims her second NSIC Player of the Week honor as one of the top batters for UMD this week. Throughout the week, she hit .643 (9-for-14), owned a .750 on-base percentage, and a 1.000 slugging percentage. She drove in six RBIs off three doubles and one triple while recording seven putouts in the field. In the Bulldogs' 5-1 week, she tallied a hit or more in all six outings, including a season high of four hits against Truman State University.
 
SYLVIA-COCHRAN EARNS NSIC PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Emmie Sylvia-Cochran claimed the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Pitcher of the Week selection this week after helping the Bulldogs to a 5-1 record in the Lewis Dome Invitational.
 
Sylvia-Cochran, a freshman pitcher from Ham Lake, Minn., earns her first career NSIC Pitcher of the Week honor after going 3-0 this week on the mound. One of those wins marked UMD's first shutout of the season (Roosevelt University, 7-0). Throughout 16 innings pitched, she allowed only nine hits with no errors, struck out 28 batters, and allowed a .161 batting average.
 
SURVEY SAYS: The UMD softball team has been picked to finish fourth in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) competition by the annual preseason coaches' poll. This comes after completing the 2025 season with an overall record of 39-17 and an 18-8 record in NSIC action.
 
 

2026 NSIC Softball Preseason Poll	Points
1. Augustana (12)	221
2. Winona State (4)	202
3. Minnesota State	197
4. Minnesota Duluth	183
5. St. Cloud State	175
6. Concordia-St. Paul	148
7. Wayne State	138
8. Minot State	133
9. Southwest Minnesota State	111
10. Sioux Falls	96
11. MSU Moorhead	80
12. Bemidji State	68
13. Northern State	56
14. Minnesota Crookston	43
15. Jamestown	42
16. University of Mary	27

    first place votes in ( )
 
ALL EYES ON ME: Senior Kendal Jenkins was named as UMD's NSIC Player to Watch, along with senior pitcher Allyssa Williams being named as the UMD NSIC Pitcher to Watch.
 
A native of Hastings, Minn., Jenkins posted a .335 batting average and .561 slugging percentage last season. By the end of the season, she earned a NSIC First Team All-Conference selection after tallying 58 hits, 19 doubles, a triple, and six home runs.
 
Williams, a product of Yuba City, Calif., went 17-8 in 29 appearances, earning a 2.91 ERA in 137 innings. In a career high season who earned a selection to the NSIC All-Defensive Team while tossing 112 strikeouts and earning a .249 bats against average.
 
LAST PLATE APPEARANCE: UMD faced off against the University of Jamestown in a doubleheader at the Nelson Family Bubble, resulting in a split for the Bulldogs. UMD secured a 5–3 victory in the first game but narrowly fell in the second game, losing 1-0.

In the first game, a decisive four-run third inning from the Bulldogs provided the edge needed to withstand a late three-run surge by Jamestown in the sixth inning. 

In the first inning, Daphne Evans singled and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kendal Jenkins drove in Evans with a fielder's choice, putting Minn. Duluth ahead 1-0. The third inning saw Evans single and score on a ground-rule double by Ava Johnson. Jenkins walked, and Sierra Thomas hit a three-run homer, bringing the score to 5-0. 

Jamestown responded in the sixth inning with a single and a double that drove in three runs, cutting the lead to 5-3. The Bulldogs maintained their lead through the seventh inning, holding the Jimmies scoreless to secure the win.

Emmie Sylvia-Cochran pitched six innings for UMD, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out four batters and walking six. Sylvia-Cochran threw a total of 116 pitches, with 61 of those being strikes, contributing to her 12-6 record. Ashley Mandell closed the game, pitching the final inning with 10 pitches, securing a save by allowing no runs or hits. 

Thomas led the offense with three hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs. Evans contributed by crossing the plate twice and stealing a base. Johnson added a double and an RBI while also scoring a run. Jenkins drew a walk and tallied an RBI despite not recording a hit.

In the second game, UMD narrowly fell to the University of Jamestown with a final score of 1-0 in a tightly contested matchup. Jamestown secured the victory in the first inning when Trinity Gregg scored the only run of the game on a groundout by Maddie Spaeth after advancing to third base. 

The Bulldogs' offense was unable to capitalize on its opportunities despite having base runners in several innings. Sierra Thomas doubled in the second inning and reached third on a sacrifice bunt, but the team left three runners on base without scoring. Kendal Jenkins doubled in the sixth inning, but UMD could not bring the runner home, concluding the game with the Jimmies maintaining their slim lead at 1-0.

Allyssa Williams pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs, allowing only one earned run over six innings. She surrendered four hits and issued one walk while striking out three batters, throwing 88 pitches with 60 going for strikes. Despite her strong performance, she was handed a loss, bringing her season record to 7-10. 

In the matchup, Jenkins recorded a hit and a double, while Thomas also contributed with a hit and a double. Morgan McMillan added a hit and successfully stole a base.
 
2025 ACCOLADES: Senior infielder Nicole Schmitt and junior catcher Kendal Jenkins earned Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference First Team All-Conference recognition and junior pitcher Allyssa Williams attained NSIC All-Defensive Team honors. 
 
Named to both the NFCA and the D2CCA All-Central Region clubs, Schmitt became the eighth player in program history to earn the title of All-American, the ninth overall, with Patty Becker earning NAIA All-American status in 1990 and 1991, including the other First Team accolade. She is now the program's fifth NFCA All-American and the program's lone NFCA First Team honoree.

GETTING THE CALL UP: The Bulldogs feature six new freshmen on the 2026 roster. That list comprises outfielder Marissa Tomashek (Shawano, Wis.), utility player Maya Miller (Eden Prairie, Minn.), utility player Paige Johnson (Superior, Wis.), outfielder Daphne Evans (Chanhassen, Minn.), catcher Kaylin Yenter (Stevens Point, Wis.), and pitcher Emmie Sylvia-Cochran (Ham Lake, Minn.). 
 
THE WAGNER FILES: A new era of Bulldog softball continues this season under head coach Nat Wagner. Under Wagner's first season of leadership, the Bulldogs posted 39 wins with a sweep of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate regular season competition. In his first year, he coached two NSIC First Team selections and a NSIC All-Defensive Team standout with four single-season records broken. The newest manager of the maroon and gold is the fifth head coach in the program's 44-year history after serving as an assistant coach for the University of Saint Thomas for two seasons. Prior, Wagner was at the helm of the Minot State University program for three years, leading the Beavers to a 60-48 record and one NSIC Postseason appearance.
 
ON DECK: The Bulldogs will host Minnesota State University Mankato and Winona State University for doubleheaders next Saturday and Sunday. Both sets have first pitch times of 12:00 p.m.