UMD Softball Makes it Six-Straight Wins After Staying Undefeated in the Spring Games Friday
The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team extended its Florida winning streak to six games Friday with a 4-1 win over Northwoods University, followed by a 6-0 shutout of Saint Anselm College in Auburndale, Fla. during the Spring Games.
In the opening game, the Timberwolves took the first lead on a home run in the top of the second inning, but UMD answered in the bottom of the fourth. Kiana Bender singled into left field and hit home Corrie Wiese and Kate Mohr to take a 2-1 lead, and then just one inning later, the Bulldogs extended that lead by two more runs when Kat Burkhardt reached second on a fielder's choice. In the aftermath both Khendal Johnson and Kendal Jenkins scored to put UMD up 4-1.
Bender went 2-of-3 in the game, while senior pitcher Lauren Dixon earned her ninth win of the season (9-2), picking up three strikeouts in the process.
In the second game, Morgan McMillian gave the Bulldogs an early lead they would never relinquish with a two RBI home run in the top of the fourth. In the fifth, Burkhardt reached first on an error which scored Bender, and then Johnson forced another error that led to Nicole Schmitt stretching UMD's lead to 4-0. In the top of the seventh Kelly Swank pinch-hit and hit a single to left field, scoring Thomas and Burkhardt.
Burkhardt led UMD with two hits, going 2-of-4 in the game. Allyssa Williams earned the win for the Bulldogs, pitching four innings with three strikeouts. Both Allison Luoma (one inning) and Maddy Walsh (two innings) saw time on the mound, and neither allowed a hit. Both struck out batters – Luoma two of the three she faced, while Walsh struck out three.
Bender also set a program record in the game – her 10th walk of the season doubled as the 92nd of her career,, and in the process, surpassed Jordyn Thomas, who walked 91 times over her career between 2018-22.
UMD will put its six-game winning streak on the line tomorrow to face No. 5 Grand Valley State and Wayne State University, both teams the Bulldogs faced in February at the Lewis Dome Invitational. UMD faces the Lakers at 8:00 a.m. CT before facing off with the Warriors at 12:30 p.m.
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