Minnesota Duluth opened the NSIC postseason tournament with a 7-1 win over fifth-seeded St. Cloud State on Thursday in Sioux Falls, S.D.
With the win, UMD advances to face No. 1 seed and ninth-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato (51-6) in the second round of the double-elimination tournament at noon today.
The fourth-seeded Bulldogs opened the game with a five-run first inning, scoring three runs on bases-loaded singles from Sammi Sadler and Hannah Bloch and two more on hit batters.
The Huskies (32-22) added a run in the top of the second, but senior pitcher Sam Hartmann kept St. Cloud State off the scoreboard for the rest of the game, allowing six hits while striking out six her 11th complete-game win of the season.
Lauren Oberle and Ashley Taipale of Duluth added solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings for the Bulldogs (25-18). Grand Rapids native Hannah Schmoll swiped her 38th and 39th stolen base of the season, putting her one away from tying the program record she set last year.
