The first and longest home stretch for the University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team will get underway this Saturday with a doubleheader at Bulldog Park on the UMD campus in Duluth, Minn. Saturday's games are set to get underway at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and the Bulldogs will wrap up their three-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play against the Mustangs and honor their seniors on Sunday, scheduled to get underway at 12:00 p.m.
UMD will return to Bulldog Park for a final time in 2026 on Tuesday, April 28th to host Winona State University in an NSIC doubleheader that will begin at 1:30 p.m. for game one, and 3:30 p.m. for game two.
THE BULLDOGS VS MUSTANGS: UMD is 5-5 in its last 10 games against SMSU, and went 2-2 against the Mustangs last season in four games held in Norwalk, Iowa. UMD post 18 runs over those four outings, while SMSU had 20.
In the final double header on Feb. 26, UMD won game one 2-1 before suffering a 9-13 setback in game two.
Notably, since 2013, UMD is 7-1 against the Mustangs in Duluth. The Bulldogs haven't played in SMSU in Duluth since May 2, 2002 – 10-7 and 8-6 wins for UMD.
THE BULLDOGS VS THE WARRIORS: UMD is 4-6 in its last 10 games against WSU, and the Bulldogs will be looking for their first win against the Warriors since March 19, 2023. Since then, WSU has reeled of six-straight wins against UMD, including two in Winona, Minn. last April 23 by scores of 13-5 and 14-9.
The last time UMD defeated WSU in Duluth? Back on April 11, 2022, a doubleheader sweep (6-4, 5-4).
LAST TIME OUT: UMD – 6-4 over its past 10 games, was edged by the University of Mary last weekend 2-1 in three games out in Bismarck, ND. On Sunday, UMD opened with a 4-2 win behind six innings pitched by Henry Wilkinson, who gave up just two runs and had four shutouts. Joe Gizzie got the save with an inning pitched. Gabe Richardson had both a home run and a double and his four RBIs accounted for all of the Bulldogs scoring in the game. Troy Lynch and Logan Myers also had two hits in the contest.
UMD suffered a lopsided 14-4 loss in the second game of the double header on Sunday, with eight pitchers on the mound for the Bulldogs. Three batters had two hits – Michael Gabbard, Hayden Anthony and Sam Kliber, who also had an RBI.
On Monday, the Bulldogs fell 7-5 to the Marauders. Blake Eiden took the loss for UMD, giving up three runs in less than inning. Anthony had a home run as one of his two hits, while Richardson and Lynch also had two hit contests.
HE'S MAKING HAY(DEN ANTHONY): Hayden Anthony has a nine-game on base streak intact heading into the weekend, and has a five-game hitting streak to pair with it. The sophomore outfielder also leads UMD with 16 multiple hit games, including four with three hits. Anthony has a .305 batting average, the third highest on the team, the second most hits (46) and is tied for the most home runs (6). He also owns a Bulldog-best eight stolen bases.
SENIORITY RULES: UMD will honor 10 seniors on Sunday for its annual Senior Day. The 10 seniors that will be honored are:
#1 Logan Myers, Catcher from Andover, Minn.
#3 Michael Gabbard, Catcher and infielder from Prior Lake, Minn.
#6 Blake Eiden, Pitcher from Victoria, Minn.
#12 Henry Bushey, Infielder, Chaska, Minn.
#22 Thomas Hanson, Outfielder and Pitcher, Carver, Minn.
#23 Caden Klebba, Pitcher and Catcher, Lino Lakes, Minn.
#24 Henry Wilkinson, Pitcher, Eau Claire, Wis.
#25 Gabe Richardson, First Base, Eau Claire, Wis.
#29 Troy Lynch, Infielder, Outfielder, Lakeville, Minn.
#33 Ryan Watermann, Pitcher, Savage, Minn.
#30 Chase Eiden, Pitcher, Victoria, Minn.
