MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Dragon softball team kicks off their four game NSIC road trip with a double-header tomorrow, March 28, against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The games will be played at noon and 2 p.m at Junction Avenue Field in Duluth, Minn.
DRAGONS
The Dragons (5-14, 1-3 NSIC) opened play at home this last weekend, taking on the No. 9 Upper Iowa University Peacocks and the No. 1 Warriors of Winona State University. On Saturday, March 23 the Dragons split the double-header match up, winning the first game 1-0 and falling 11-1 in the second.
On Sunday, the Dragons took on tough competitor Winona State. The Warriors showed their hitting strength by earning 27 hits in the two games and defeating the Dragons 11-1 in game one and 12 -3 in game two. The Dragons record of 1-3 in the opening weekend of NSIC play earned them the No. 12 spot in the NSIC polls this week.
Junior outfielder Paige Smith led the Dragons this weekend, hitting 7-of-11 from the plate with two RBI's. Freshman pitcher Amanda Lynch took her first NSIC victory in the Dragons 1-0 decision over the Peacocks. Lynch gave up only six hits and three walks. The youngster pitched her way out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the top of the seventh to seal the win.
DULUTH
The Bulldogs (18-14, 2-2 NSIC) are in the No. 7 position after the first week of NSIC action. The Bulldogs split both double-header match-up's last weekend against Minnesota State – Mankato and Southwest Minnesota State University.
On Sunday March 24 against the Mustangs of Southwest State, the Bulldogs were victorious in game one, 3-1. UMD totaled six hits and two RBI's as a team. They were led by center fielder Megan Mullen. She hit 1-of-2 from the plate, had one run and one RBI.
In game two the Bulldogs fell short, losing 5-3. UMD as a team totaled seven hits, one more then their opponent SMSU, but they left 10 runners on base in the game. Shortstop Kierra Jeffers led the team with two RBI's, one run and a .500 batting average.
THE MATCH UP
Last season MSUM and UMD meet on one occasion in Duluth, Minn. on April 6, 2011. The Bulldogs swept the Dragons, outscoring them 22-6 in the double-header games. The Dragons totaled 12 hits in the two games and left 14 runners on base.
