The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team opened up the weekend and their final road series of the 2024 regular season with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) doubleheader against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles.

Game One: UMD (4) - UMC (12)

The Golden Eagles took the opportunity to open the scoring in today's first game, connecting for a two run home run in the bottom of the first and a trio of RBI base hits to jump out to an early 5-0 lead. After four of the Bulldogs first seven batters would get out on pop flys, UMD would finally connect for some offensive production with a Troy Lynch double to right field to leadoff the third and a walk from Oran Hinkle on two outs. A RBI single from Gabe Richardson and a RBI double from Jack Puder would tally the first two runs of the game for the Bulldogs before the end of the inning.

A UMC solo home run in the bottom of the third would quickly be matched by Trevor Gustafson who would go yard for a solo home run of his own, making the score 6-3 in favor of the Golden Eagles. UMC would go on to add another two runs before the end of the fourth and another three in the fifth with a pair of RBI doubles and a two run homer before the Bulldogs' could answer back, which brought Lynch back to the plate to stay hot with RBI base hit. That would be all UMD could collect however as UMC added one more run in the bottom of the sixth to end the game 12-4. 

Game Two: UMD (5) - UMC (8)

A scoreless opening two innings would lead to the Bulldogs jumping out to the early lead in game two with Richardson connecting for the RBI double in the top of the third. UMC would be quick to answer back however as a third inning grand slam would swing the lead into their favor 4-1 heading into the fourth. UMD would continue to produce from the dish however as an error from the UMC shortstop would allow a run Ethan Cole to score following his leadoff single and give Kade Peloquin the chance to knock an RBI base hit to get the Bulldogs back within one.

Another scoreless two innings in the fifth and sixth broke up the action before bringing Lynch back to the plate, connecting for his second RBI of the day with a base hit through the infield gap to score Richardson and tie the game at 4-4. Though UMC would not let it go unanswered as they would tally another three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. The two would trade a run for a run in the eighth, closing out the game at 8-5 in favor of UMC.

Looking Ahead

Bulldog baseball returns tomorrow afternoon for their final away game of the 2024 regular season, completing the three game series against the Golden Eagles. The first pitch from Crookston is currently scheduled for 12:00 PM.