Rochester, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team (39-11 overall, 22-6 NSIC) knocked off top-seeded Augustana 4-0 in the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament on Friday. The win propels the Bulldogs to their first NSIC Championship appearance since they last won the title back in 2002. UMD will play the winner of Augustana/St. Cloud State for conference gold on Saturday, May 6 at 12:00 p.m. at the RYFSA Complex in Rochester, Minn.

Friday started with some familairy in the form of reliable Bulldog hitting. It was UMD's first time kicking off a game at the plate in Rochester, and it sure made the most of the opportunity. After a Kiana Bender single got the ball rolling, Corrie Weise blasted the door off of this one offensively, crushing a two-run homer to put UMD on top 2-0. Make it three games in a row where UMD's secured a lead in the first frame. 

Speaking of consistency… enter Lauren Dixon to the mound. Kicking her third-straight day of work off in the only way she knew how to, the NSIC Pitcher of the Year recorded a strikeout. A sign of things to come, just like the ensuing groundout and lineout that quickly sent the Bulldogs right back up to bat just like that. The Bulldogs cashed in at the dish once again, Bender striking a single with two outs on the board to send Nicole Schmitt in the score to make it 3-0. This was already enough to chase AU's starting pitcher in Lexi Lander off the hill, with Hailey Houston coming in in relief. Houston would be able to navigate through the rest of the frame without any more damage being done.

Trends are fun, so here's another one: the Bulldogs continued their display of dominance out on the field. A trend within a trend, actually, as Dixon retired the first batter she faced in the second frame with another K. Delaney Young was able to do the unthinkable during the next at-bat, landing a hit. UMD's defense sure didn't take too kindly this- right afterwards, the Bulldogs (spearheaded by Julia Gronholz, Bender and Schmitt) worked a double-play to shut down AU's bats for the inning. 

Nothing much to report from the UMD offense in the top of the third, but the same can't be said of Dixon's work in the bottom of the frame. The junior lefty really did have a thing for starting innings in style on this day, as she again struck out the first batter she met here. A flyout and a groundout served as the rest of the inning's sequence, putting the Bulldogs in position to build upon their lead in the top of the fourth. Wouldn't you know it… Weise would strike again. Wasn't quite a homer this time around, but still some power hitting nonetheless, as the junior's double down the left field line sent Dea Deleon home to make it 4-0 UMD. 

Against all odds, Dixon didn't start the bottom of the fourth with another K- sub in a pop out instead. Fear not, though, as the junior would meet her strikeout quota for the inning on the very next at-bat. A groundout right after ended yet another attempt from the Viking offense in 1-2-3 fashion. But UMD's bats would stay cool themselves in the top of the fifth, putting AU right back up to the plate. It's a trip that didn't last all that long, though- strikeout, pop out, ground out. Hey, there's that inning-opening K!

After falling down to its last out of the inning, UMD's offense would threaten in the top of the sixth, placing two Bulldogs on base. This didn't quite translate into more runs, but all that meant is that Dixon would be coming up to the hill again for the bottom of the frame. Three more up, three more down, this time with a fun twist- line out, groundout, then strikeout. The Bulldogs were again kept off the board to kick off the seventh, sending Dixon up to the mound with hopes of wrapping this one up. Hope well-placed, as it turns out. The switch-up in the sixth was cool, but let's get back to basics: strike out, pop out, groundout. For the first time since 2002, UMD was off to the NSIC Tournament Title game courtesy of a 4-0 win over the Vikings. 

Another day, another dominant display from Dixon. What more can you say? The three-time NSIC Pitcher of the Week allowed just one hit all game, the only blemish on her stat line. No runs, not even any walks- just the hit. It's the junior's second one-hitter in three postseason starts. Not bad. At the plate, Weise stepped up in a big way for UMD in this one. The junior went 2-3 with a team-leading three RBIs and a run scored. Bender closed a perfect 2-2 from the dish, tallying an RBI and a run of her own.

Lander was saddled with the loss for AU on the hill, giving up five hits and three runs in 1.2 innings. Houston put up a valiant effort the rest of the way, allowing only one run, three hits and five walks.