Baseball Falls in Both Games of Opening Doubleheader against Augustana - UMD Athletics (2024)

The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball team opened up a four game series today against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) opponent Augustana University, falling to the Vikings in both games of the doubleheader in Sioux Falls.

Game One: UMD (4) - AUG (6)

The Vikings would jump out to an early lead to start the day, tallying four runs in the first inning on a fielding error from UMD followed by a two run home run and an RBI double. They would go on to add another run in the second on a series of base hits before a quiet overall third inning would break up the action. The Bulldogs would finally take their moment to answer and collect their first run in the fourth on a bases loaded passed ball, though AUG would match that with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to increase their lead to 6-1. The next two full innings would stay scoreless, thanks to the help of catcher Michael Gabbard who would catch a Viking runner attempting to steal in the sixth. An incredible offensive effort in the seventh would stem from a Jack Nemetz two run home run over the left field wall and lead to an eventual sacrifice fly that would score one more for the Bulldogs to make it 6-4, but it would be too little too late as the Vikings would close out game one.

Game Two: UMD (4) - AUG (7)

The runs for either team wouldn't start to tack on until the second inning, with the Vikings getting a lead off triple that would score on a sacrifice grounder just one batter later. A defensive third inning would divide the action before the Bulldogs would reach on a wild dropped third strike and score on back to back base hits. The extra base hits would start to pile in for Augustana, collecting three runs throughout the fourth and fifth to bring their lead up to 4-1. In the top of the seventh inning, UMD would fill the bases on a walk followed by a double and another walk before the Vikings would make a pitching change. On the next at bat, a Gabe Richardson single down the right field line would clear the bases and tie up the game 4-4. However, the Vikings would respond with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning and proceed to blank the Bulldogs through the end of the game.

Looking Ahead

The Bulldogs will close out the four game series with another doubleheader against the Vikings tomorrow. The first pitch is set to be thrown from Creighton Prep High School in Omaha, NEat 1:30 PM.