The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team snaps a 10 game losing streak this afternoon, putting on a lockdown defensive display to take a game off of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) opponent Wayne State College to split their final doubleheader against the Wildcats.

Game One: UMD (4) - WSC (3)

A scoreless opening two innings would lead to the Wildcats tallying the first run of the afternoon on a collection of base hits in the top of the third. The contact for the Bulldogs would wake up in response, with a single and hit by pitch moving runners into scoring position and another base hit from Gabe Richardson to tally the first run for the Bulldogs and tie up the score. 

A fielder's choice situation would put runners on the corners for UMD, creating the perfect double steal opportunity and allow Michael Gabbard to tally on another run for the Dogs. Ethan Cole would follow all of that up with a triple out to right center to score Jack Puder from second before the inning would come to a close, leaving the Bulldogs with a 3-1 lead. 

The Bulldogs would be quick to get back onto the base paths, reaching on a fielding error by the Wildcats in the next inning and allowing another Gabbard base hit to score Garrett Stauffacher from second base. WSC would take their chance to mount a comeback in the top of the sixth, scoring off an RBI double and later a single down the right field line to cut the Bulldog lead to just 4-3. UMD would shut it down though and keep the Wildcats from scoring the tying run, ending the game on a strikeout and ending their 10 game losing streak.

Game Two: UMD (3) - WSC (11)

The scoring didn't slow down as we moved into game two, with the Wildcats putting up two runs in the top of the first and the Bulldogs scoring one of their own on a sacrifice fly from Puder to score Gabbard from third. UMD would collect another one in the bottom of the second after a Sam Kilber base hit would allow him to score on the following Gabbard double to right center. A quiet third and fourth for both teams would break up the action before a nine run offensive effort in the fifth by the Wildcats would blow things open to a 11-2 deficit for UMD. A collection of base hits in the bottom of the inning would tally one back in retribution, but WSC would hold onto their eight point lead through the rest of the game to close things out and split the double header.

Looking Ahead

Bulldog baseball will make a quick road trip during the week to take on the Bemidji State Beavers on Wednesday before returning home for a three game series against the Northern State Wolves next weekend.