The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team faced Concordia-St. Paul in a doubleheader at Carlander Field, splitting the games with a 9–7 victory in the first and a 12–4 defeat in the second.
Starting the doubleheader, the Bulldogs began strong with
Kendal Jenkins hitting a home run to right field in the first inning, giving UMD an early lead. However, CSP responded with a two-run home run, ending the inning with a 2–1 advantage.
The third inning saw
Daphne Evans score on a sacrifice fly by
Ava Johnson, tying the game at 2–2. The Bulldogs then took command in the fourth inning when Evans singled up the middle, driving in two runs to push the score to 4–2.
The fifth inning brought a highlight for UMD as
Taylor Dawyduk hit a three-run home run to right-center, extending the Bulldogs' lead. Nevertheless, the Golden Bears rallied back with five runs, leveling the score at 7–7.
The game remained tied until the seventh inning when Dawyduk hit another home run, this time a two-run shot to left field, sealing the victory for UMD at 9-7.
On the mound,
Emmie Sylvia-Cochran pitched five innings, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs while striking out one and walking three. She threw 106 pitches, with 61 strikes, and conceded one home run.
Ashley Mandell relieved Sylvia-Cochran, pitching the remainder without allowing a run or a walk. Mandell gave up just one hit, throwing 29 pitches with 22 for strikes, improving her season record to 5-2.
Dawyduk made a significant impact by recording two home runs and driving in five runs.
Morgan McMillan contributed with three hits and scored twice. Jenkins added power with her home run and one RBI, while
Khendal Johnson scored twice and drew a walk in the game.
In the second game, UMD fell to the Golden Bears 12–4, despite tallying nine hits and two home runs. The Golden Bears took an early lead in the first inning, scoring three runs due to errors and a hit-by-pitch, and held a 3–0 advantage after one inning.
Sierra Thomas put UMD on the board in the second inning with a solo home run to right field, but CSP responded with a run, concluding the inning at 4–1.
The Bulldogs narrowed the gap in the third inning as
Daphne Evans singled and stole second, eventually scoring on a groundout by
Kendal Jenkins.
Ava Johnson also crossed home plate following a single from
Khendal Johnson, making it 5–3 after three innings.
The fourth saw
Taylor Dawyduk hit a solo home run for UMD, but CSP rallied with four runs, extending their lead to 9–4. They added three more runs in the fifth inning, securing the decisive lead as the Bulldogs were unable to score, resulting in a final score of 12–4.
Allyssa Williams started on the mound for UMD, pitching three innings and allowing four hits and seven runs, four of which were earned. She issued three walks and hit one batter, with two of CSP's hits being home runs.
Maddy Walsh relieved Williams, conceding four runs on four hits, with one strikeout and two walks.
Ashley Mandell closed the game, pitching in the last inning and allowing one run on one hit with two walks.
Sierra Thomas recorded one home run and one RBI in her performance.
Ava Johnson contributed with two hits and scored once, while
Khendal Johnson made an impact with two hits and one RBI. Dawyduk also added to her scoring efforts with a home run and one RBI.
UMD now holds a 15-15 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), securing the No. 10 seed in the NSIC Tournament, with competition set to begin Wednesday.
