Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
ABERDEEN, S.D. – The visiting University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs blasted four home runs – two in each game – to claim a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victories over host Northern State University on Wednesday. UMD eeked out a 3-1 win in the opener, but opened up for an 11-0 five-inning victory in the nightcap to complete the sweep.
The mid-week losses dropped the Wolves to 5-17 on the season and 1-5 in league play, while the Bulldogs moved to 16-5 overall and 5-1 in conference action. Wednesday's games also marked the end of a six-game homestand for the Wolves, who go back on the road for four games over the weekend.
UMD struck quickly in Game 1 when Ashley Johnson hit the first of her two home runs in the first inning. That round-tripper also scored teammate Whitney Olson, who had doubled with one out to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 early.
UMD threatened to open things up even more, as pitcher Kristen Danielson and second baseman Tyra Kerr followed Johnson's blast with back-to-back singles, but NSU right-hander Kelli Bornander worked her way out of the jam, giving up just the two runs.
The Wolves reclaimed one of those runs in their half of the first. Sophomore Brooke Norris legged out an infield hit to lead off the inning, then swiped second base with one out to move into scoring position. Fellow sophomore Whitney Luhring moved Norris to third with her ground-out to short. Sophomore first baseman Brittany Huback – the hero of last Saturday's win over Upper Iowa – again came through in the clutch for the Wolves, as she singled Norris home to make it a 2-1 game.
Following the first inning, both starting pitchers settled in for five straight scoreless innings, before UMD's Johnson – facing off against Bornander for the fourth time – broke up the pattern with her second homer of the game. With two outs and a 3-2 count, Johnson put the ball in nearly the same place as her first inning blast, giving the Bulldogs their third and final run of the game.
NSU put together a rally of its own in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on first and second with one out. Bulldog hurler Kristen Danielson, however, weaseled her way out of the inning with a force play and a ground out to end the threat and the game.
Bornander absorbed the loss on the mound for the Wolves, allowing just the three runs, walking one and striking out five. Danielson picked up the win for UMD, giving up one run on four hits and striking out eight.
In Game 2, the Bulldogs took advantage of three NSU errors while knocking out two more home runs to score five unearned runs in an 11-0 win in five innings. After a scoreless first, the Bulldogs scored two in the second, three in the third and five in the fourth, working their way through three NSU pitchers in the process.
Sophomore Rachel South took the loss for the Wolves, giving up two runs in the second inning. Junior Kelley Suggs came on in relief with the bases loaded but induced a pop-up third out to get out of the jam. UMD's Heather Stemper picked up the complete-game win for the Bulldogs, striking out seven and allowing just one hit in her five innings of work.
The Wolves take to the road this weekend for another four-game set against Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday and 24th ranked Minnesota State, Mankato on Sunday. First pitch both days is set for noon, with the second game of each doubleheader to follow approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game 1.
