Minnesota Duluth used a six-run third inning to capture a 9-1 win in the opener of a four-game baseball series vs. Wayne State Thursday afternoon at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne.  The second game was suspended due to darkness with the Bulldogs holding a 6-4 lead over WSC entering the top of the ninth inning.  With the opening game win, UMD is now 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the NSIC while WSC is 6-6 and 1-3 in league play.
            The opener saw the Wildcats leave six runners on base in the first three innings while scoring just one run, then the Bulldogs erupted for six runs in the third inning to take control of the game.
            Minnesota Duluth opened the scoring with one run in the first, then used six hits to score six runs in the third to grab a 7-0 advantage.
            Wayne State scored its lone run in the bottom of the third when senior second baseman Paul Schuyler singled up the middle and scored on a Nate Cunningham single.
            Neither team scored the next two innings with the Bulldogs adding insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings to close with a 9-1 victory.
            Wayne State had eight hits in the game, led by Schuyler going 3 for 3 with a run scored.  Max Heard extended his hitting streak to 10 games, going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles.  Cunningham, Braden Cannon and Casey Prychak also singled for the 'Cats.
            Freshman starter Tyler Albert (3-1) suffered the pitching loss, charged with seven runs in two innings of work.  Senior reliever Kadyn Van Hill worked the next four innings and allowed just one run on two hits while Clement Febus pitched the final inning giving up one run on three hits.
            The second game saw Minnesota Duluth open with four runs in the first and two more in the fifth for a 6-0 lead.
            WSC began their comeback with single runs in the fifth and sixth and two more in the seventh.
            But umpires called the game due to darkness as fields began to take the field for the top of the ninth inning.
            The game will be completed Friday starting at 12 p.m. followed by the regularly scheduled doubleheader between the two clubs in Wayne.