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NCAA Central Regional Elimination Game (3) #20 Minnesota Duluth (39-15) vs. (7) SWOSU (33-16) Friday, May 20, 1:30 pm St. Cloud, Minn. (Joe Faber Field) Live Stats  |  Watch Live  |  Live Audio

Setting the Scene
- SWOSU Baseball will face elimination from the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament on Friday at 2:00 pm when the Bulldogs meet Minnesota Duluth, the No. 3 in the regional and the No. 20-ranked team in the final NCBWA Top 25 Poll
- The Bulldogs were defeated 3-1 by No. 2-seed Central Missouri in their regional opener, while Minnesota-Duluth suffered a 4-0 setback against Emporia State on Thursday evening
- This will mark the first-ever meeting between the programs, both of whom claim 'Bulldogs' as their mascot
- Minnesota-Duluth is in their second NCAA Regional appearance and both teams will be looking for their first-ever NCAA Postseason victory on Friday
 
The Opponent
(3) #20 Minnesota Duluth (39-15)
- UMD was shut out for the first time this season on Thursday as they were dealt a 4-0 defeat by No. 6-seed Emporia State in their regional opener
- Entered the tournament ranked No. 29 in the final NCBWA Top 25 poll of the season and 29th in the CBN National Top 30 poll
- The Bulldogs boast one of the best offensive lineups in NCAA Division II, entering the regional ranked first in home runs (102) second in runs (493), third in batting average (.358), fifth in scoring (9.3 runs/game) and sixth in hits (645)
- Leading the UMD attack is Central Region Player of the Year, Alex Wojciechowki, who leads NCAA Division II in home runs (33), RBI (101), slugging percentage (1.009) and runs scored (86)
- Also earning All-Central Region honors for the Bulldogs were first baseman Kyle Comer (First Team, D2CCA/NCBWA), second baseman Jimmy Heck (First Team, D2CCA; Second Team, NCBWA) and Grant Farley (Second Team, NCBWA)
- UMD has used 18 different pitchers this season, combining for 39 victories with 409 strikeouts and a 5.26 earned run average
 
The Coaches
SWOSU: Zack Saunders (135-101, 5th season)
- Two-time Great American Conference Coach of the Year, winning the award in 2013 and 2016
- In the midst of his second 30-win season as the head coach of the Bulldogs, where he has led SWOSU to four winning seasons while tutoring 24 all-conference players
- Earned his 100th career victory at SWOSU against Northwestern Oklahoma State on April 24, 2015
- Was named the GAC Coach of the Year in 2013 and he has tutored 14 players who have earned All-GAC status, including four first-team selections, five All-Central Region honorees, one regional gold glove award winner and one MLB draftee
- Previously served as an assistant at SWOSU for six seasons under former Bulldog coaches Charles Teasley and Scott Selby
- Played collegiately at Kansas State following two seasons at Connors State playing on nationally-ranked junior college teams
- Has a record of 135-101 while leading the Bulldogs and he will be facing Minnesota-Duluth for the first time in his career
 
Minnesota-Duluth: Bob Rients (264-270, 11th season)
- In his 11th season leading the Bulldogs, who he has led to a program-record 39 wins to date this season
- Became the third coach in the program's history in 2005 following a five-year stint as an assistant coach on the UMD Baseball staff
- Was named the NSIC Coach of the Year in 2009 and he's coached 12 All-Central Region selections and three All-Americans in his time with the Bulldogs
 
Postseason Honors
- Three different SWOSU players have earned All-Central Region accolades this week, led by Jon Chidester, a second team selection by both the NCBWA and D2CCA
- SWOSU outfielders Korbin Polston and Jacob Spring have also earned all-region honors, with Polston an honorable mention choice by NCBWA and Spring a second team selection by D2CCA
- SWOSU had eight players named to the 2016 All-GAC Baseball team, while head coach Zack Saunders was named the GAC Coach of the Year for the second time (2013)
- Earning First Team All-GAC honors were starting pitcher Jon Chidester, outfielders Korbin Polston & Jacob Spring and designated hitter Zach Barton
- Second Team All-GAC selections included starting pitcher Gunnar Cook and outfielder Tanner Dearman while relief pitcher Quintin Dougherty and second baseman CJ Faddis received honorable mention
- Polston and Barton added selections to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Teams, becoming the first such honorees from SWOSU Baseball since 2004
 
SWOSU in the Postseason
- SWOSU has been an NCAA Division II program since 1998 and they are making the programs first-ever appearance in the Division II Baseball Championship tournament
- Since joining NCAA Division II, SWOSU is 1-15 in postseason baseball with the lone win coming against Texas A&M-Kingsville in the 2011 Lone Star Conference Tournament
- The Bulldogs are 0-8 in four GAC Tournament appearances, including an 0-2 mark this season when they were eliminated by Arkansas Tech
 
NCAA Central Regional Recap
- Thursday Results
   (8) Minnesota State def. (1) St. Cloud State 1-0
   (4) Arkansas-Monticello def. (5) Missouri Western 15-0
   (2) Central Missouri def. (7) SWOSU 3-1
   (6) Emporia State def. (3) Minnesota Duluth 4-0
 
- Friday Schedule
   10:00 am: (1) St. Cloud State vs. (5) Missouri Western (Elimination Game)
   1:30 pm: (3) Minnesota Duluth vs. (7) SWOSU (Elimination Game)
   5:00 pm: (8) Minnesota State vs. (4) Arkansas-Monticello
   8:30 pm (2) Central Missouri vs. (6) Emporia State
 
Looking Ahead
- The winner of Friday's contest will return to action at 10:00 am on Saturday morning, facing the loser of the game between Minnesota State and Arkansas-Monticello