UMD Athletics

The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team and Winona State University settled for split of an afternoon doubleheader Wednesday at Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minn., with the Bulldogs taking game one 3-2 and the Warriors grabbing game two 17-12.

Game One, 3-2 UMD Win

The Bulldogs secured the win with a decisive two-run seventh inning, overcoming an early deficit.

WSU took an early lead in the first inning and extended it in the third. UMD responded in the bottom of the inning when Thomas Hanson walked and advanced to second on a balk. Cade Chittum reached on an error, allowing Hanson to score an unearned run, closing the gap to 2-1.

The game remained tight until the bottom of the seventh inning. Gabe Richardson was hit by a pitch and Jacob Haughton, who pinch ran, stole second. Following a walk by Troy Lynch, Logan Myers reached on an error, loading the bases. 

Enter Nikhil Kand, who delivered a crucial two-RBI single to left field, scoring Haughton and Lynch to secure the 3-2 UMD win.

Liam Kruse started the game for the Bulldogs, pitching five and 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out four batters and walking one. Caden Klebba relieved Kruse, contributing 2/3 of an inning with two hits allowed and one strikeout, and Henry Wilkinson closed the game with a solid performance, pitching one inning and allowing one hit and one walk, securing his fifth win of the season to improve his record to 5-6.

Kandi led the offensive effort with two RBIs, contributing a crucial impact at the plate. Haughton added a run, showcasing speed with a stolen base. 

Game Two, 17-12 UMD Loss

Despite a late surge with five runs in the eighth inning, the Bulldogs could not overcome an eight-run rally by Winona State in the ninth.  UMD had a season-high 44 at bats in the contest.

The Bulldogs took an early lead in the second inning when Henry Bushey doubled to left field, bringing Nikhil Kandi home. Thomas Hanson followed with a double of his own, allowing Bushey to score, making it 2–0.

In the third inning, Michael Gabbard advanced to third on a sacrifice fly and scored on a fielder's choice by Troy Lynch, extending the lead to 3–0. 

The Warriors responded in the fourth inning with two unearned runs, cutting UMD's lead to 4–2. However, Hayden Anthony reached on an error, allowing Bushey to score, and the Bulldogs maintained a 4–2 edge.

UMD added another run in the fifth when Lynch scored after a groundout by Garrett Stauffacher. However, WSU pulled closer by scoring two runs in their half, narrowing the score to 5–4.

The Warriors seized the lead in the sixth inning with a two-run homer by Adam Wall, followed by a single that brought in another run, putting them ahead 7–5.

UMD narrowed the gap in the seventh inning when Lynch scored following Caden Klebba's RBI single – one of two season-high hits – making it 7–6. 

In a dramatic eighth inning, the Bulldogs' offense came alive. Logan Myers scored first, followed by a three-RBI double from Lynch. Lynch then scored on a wild pitch, giving UMD an 11–9 lead.

Despite a rally by WSU in the ninth inning, scoring eight runs, the Bulldogs added one more run on a single by Gabe Richardson. The game concluded with the Warriors emerging victorious, 17–12. 

UMD's pitching staff faced challenges in their matchup against the Warriors, with Ayden Lysaght making a solid start by allowing two hits and no earned runs over three 1/3 innings while striking out two. Sam Kliber and Darren Loyola each contributed an inning but allowed a combined total of four earned runs. Blake Eiden, who recorded the loss in just 1/3 of an inning, while Zak Brown and Michael Foley managed to hold WSU scoreless in their respective outings, with Brown pitching 2/3 of an inning and Foley 2/3 of an inning without allowing any runs.

Lynch delivered a strong performance by recording four RBIs and crossing home plate three times, a season-high. Anthony contributed significantly with three hits, including a double, and one RBI, while Richardson added to the effort with two RBIs and a hit. Gabbard made an impact by scoring three runs and adding two hits.

The Bulldogs have an overall record of 17-30 and a NSIC record of 16-19 in the NSIC, while WSU holds an overall record of 23-23 and stands with a conference record of 18-15 in the NSIC. UMD will put the wraps on the regular season this weekend when they travel to Mankato, Minn. to face Minnesota State University, Mankato in a Saturday doubleheader that gets underway at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and concludes at noon on Sunday.