MARSHALL, Minn. – Kat Burkhadt knocked five hits and tallied four RBIs to propel the UMD Bulldogs to a pair of victories, 9-0 and 6-1, over the SMSU softball team on Friday afternoon at Mustang Field.
UMD jumps to 25-10 on the season and 6-4 in NSIC play. The Mustangs drop to 13-22 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
Morgyn Otte (6-9) was tabbed with the loss in game one, but pitched a strong first five innings against the Bulldogs, allowing just one hit before the sixth inning. Otte gave up eight runs (one unearned) on nine hits with three strikeouts.
The Mustangs' lonely threat came in the second inning after putting two runners on base before the inning ended shortly after.
UMD opened up the scoring in the sixth inning. With one out and in a 2-2 count, Kat Burkhardt smashed a ball to left-center field that had enough gust to get over the fence to give UMD the 2-0 lead. Kendal Jenkins was next to deliver a run with a deep fly ball double to right field that scored the runner from first base and pushed the lead to 3-0.
The Bulldogs tacked on six more runs in the seventh inning on five hits and a critical error, including scoring a run on a wild pitch. NSIC Pitcher to Watch, Lauren Dixon (13-4), earned the victory in game one after pitching a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out four.
UMD carried the momentum from the game one win into the second game, knocking 11 hits in the 6-1 victory.
Minnesota Duluth kicked off the scoring right away in the first inning on a two-run homer from Kat Burkhardt.
SMSU countered in the bottom half of the inning to score its lonely run of the day.
Riley Kramolisch led off with a single and moved to third after a walk and wild pitch.
Abby Russell also drew a walk to load the bases.
Molly Bull chopped a short roller down the left side of the infield to score Kramolisch and cut the deficit to one run.
The Bulldogs would not go away, scoring another run in the second inning off a single down the right-field line. UMD plated two more runs in the fifth and another in the sixth before Allison Luoma held SMSU hit-less through the final three innings.
Karlie Miller (7-11) was tabbed with the loss in game two, allowing six runs on 11 hits and five walks, while striking out four in seven innings. Maddy Walsh (7-0) grabbed the win, allowing one run on five hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings. Allison Luoma threw the final 3 1/3 innings and allowed just two hits.
Jillian Noel went 2 for 4 at the plate to lead SMSU and is just one hit away from 200 career hits.
SMSU continues play at home tomorrow with a pair of games against the St. Cloud State Huskies (22-14, 5-5 NSIC), with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
