UMD Splits with Upper Iowa

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

The University of Minnesota Duluth split a pair of high-scoring affairs with Upper Iowa University in a non-conference doubleheader against its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe.

Upper Iowa (11-11) jumped out early on UMD (11-7) in game one, scoring multiple runs in the first, fourth, and fifth innings to secure a 14-6 victory. The Bulldogs struck first in game two, but the Peacocks came back with UMD needing to cross the plate nine times to edge out the home team late, 9-8, and earn a series split.

A pair of errors cost UMD early in game one as the Peacocks plated four runs in the bottom of the first on just three hits. Farley singled and stole second in the top of the next innings, but was stranded there as the Bulldogs went down in order the rest of the frame. UMD struck back in the top of the third when Josh Denisen launched his second home run in as many games for the Bulldogs, a two-run shot with senior centerfielder John Meyer on first after a walk. The Peacocks would pull away beginning in the bottom of the inning, plating a single run in the bottom of the inning but then piling on multiple runs in the fourth and fifth. Junior third baseman Kyle Comer continued his hitting streak, now at seven games, in the sixth inning and came around to score on a double by junior second baseman Jimmy Heck. UMD would scratch three more runs across on bases-loaded walks in the seventh inning but get no closer as Upper Iowa held on for a 14-6 win.

The Bulldogs would once again load the bases in the first and second innings of game two, finally breaking through with a clutch hit when Meyer laced a bases-clearing double to right center to put UMD up in the early going. A single by junior first baseman Alex Wojciechowski stretched the lead to four, and he came around to score on a Peacock fielding error as the Bulldogs jumped out 5-0. Upper Iowa had a quick answer when the Peacocks middle infield combo of Luis Ravelo and Mitch Moser lifted back-to-back home runs, the first a three-run shot, which they followed up with another extra-base hit, this time a triple, that brough home the game-tying run before the bottom of the second concluded. Comer extended his streak to eight games, doubling home Wojciechowski in the top of the fourth inning to once again give UMD the lead, and the teams would trade runs into the next inning when Meyer’s second double of the day brought home senior catcher Beau Goff. Denisen would make it two-straight two-baggers and bring home Meyer, giving the Bulldogs a two-score lead.

Meanwhile, freshman southpaw Marcus Frederickson left in the bottom of the fifth having tossed two hitless innings, allowing just one earned run as the Peacocks would plate the game-tying run against first-year righthander Jonny Houston, the first score of the year against him, but an errant pick-off throw and a single by Heck would drive in the go-ahead run for UMD in the top of the next inning.. Senior righty Wes Mleziva came in and tossed two perfect innings, striking out two and salvaging a split for the Bulldogs with his third save of the season.