Northern State Sweeps UMD

NSO-NEWS RELEASE

The University of Minnesota Duluth continues to travel the upper midwest in order to get in games as the team met Northern State University in Redfield, S.D. to open a four-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference series Friday.

UMD (14-21, 10-14 NSIC) rode a seven-game winning streak into the twinbill with the Wolves (23-14, 16-10), who snapped the Bulldogs’ streak with a doubleheader sweep, winning 8-4 and 14-4 in a pair of seven-inning games.

Balls were flying out in the doubleheader as seven home runs resulted in the first 11 runs of game one. Unfortunately for UMD, a fifth-inning grand slam by NSU senior slugger Robbie Rocamora capped a two-homer day for the Wolves’ first baseman and was the difference in the game. Junior catcher Beau Goff and freshman right fielder Matt Vogt each had a solo shot for UMD, while sophomore first baseman Alex Wojciechowski launched a two-run bomb in the fifth inning to pull the Bulldogs within three. A bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning plated an insurance run for Northern State, as freshman James Georgakas allowed one Bulldog hit in the final two innings to close out a win for senior starter Cody Vandever (4-3). Senior righty Max Ryan tossed five innings for UMD, and fell to 2-3 on the year, giving up the four long balls after only allowing one homer previously this season.

The ball kept flying out in game two as the teams combined for five home runs and 12 extra-base hits. Georgakas returned to the mound to start game one, the recipient of eight runs of support by the bottom of the third inning, but was knocked out after three due to a two-run shot by sophomore Josh Denisen in the third and another longball by sophomore Ryan Lakin leading off the fourth to end his night prematurely. Freshman Pete Sauer (1-0) came in and shut down the Bulldogs the rest of the way, scattering four hits and striking out four while giving up a late run when junior John Meyer singled home Kyle Hoffman in the seventh with the game all but decided. Sophomore lefthander Kyle Fritz took the tough-luck loss to fall to 1-2 on the season as five of Northern State’s eight runs scored in his three innings of work were unearned.

The two teams will be back at it again tomorrow afternoon at Northern State’s home ballpark in Aberdeen, S.D. Opening pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.