Don't cross out the University of Minnesota Duluth from the 2007 North Central Conference baseball playoffs after Thursday's 11-9 loss to St. Cloud State.

The Bulldogs (15-33, 5-11 NCC) are still alive. One more setback in the double-elimination tournament, though, and their season is over.

In a nine-inning game at Joe Faber Field, the Huskies (14-27, 8-13), who are hosting this year's event, got 8.1 innings of work out of their starting pitcher, Adam McGrane.

McGrane (4-6) found himself in a bind during the first inning. The first two batters he faced -- Alex Conboy and Kyle Zweber -- reached on fielding errors (one of the miscues was McGrane's) which set the table for a three-run homer by David Olson to give the Bulldogs, who were situated in the visitor's dugout, an early lead. Olson, who's RBI total currently stands at 36, has now belted a three-run bomb five times this season.

UMD's starter, John Vaudreuil, couldn't keep the Huskies from hitting their offensive stride. After allowing seven hits and six earned runs, Vaudreuil (3-4) was pulled before the fifth frame began in favor of Cole Hytjan. At that point, St. Cloud State was up 7-5.

Trailing 11-5 in the ninth, the Bulldogs manufactured four runs but their rally effort fell short when pinch hitter Scott Sorensen struck out swinging with nobody on base. McGrane, who gave up 14 of UMD's 15 hits, departed after Ty Fadness singled to center field, advancing Olson, who had doubled, to third. With Scott Sand pitching for the Huskies, Tony Doherty slapped a two-baser to right center, plating Olson, Fadness and Luke Johnson. Doherty scored on a Andrew Heieie ground out.

On Friday (May 11) at 1 p.m., the Bulldogs will confront the loser of this afternoon's match-up between the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Augustana College (S.D.). The Vikings defeated the University of North Dakota earlier today 13-5 for the right to challenge UNO.