GAME 1 BOX SCORE  /  GAME 2 BOX SCORE

Bismarck, ND – In a battle between two regionally-ranked opponents tied for fourth in the Northern Sun, the homestanding University of Mary softball team dropped a pair of conference games to the University of Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs pulled away for a 7-2 win in the opener before edging the Marauders 3-2 in the nightcap. The Marauders entered the day rated fifth in the first NCAA Central Region rankings of the season and the Bulldogs are seventh.
 
The Marauders jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the opener on a two-out two-run double by freshman third baseman Kristin Ormsby. Her drive to right center scored Jessica Alvarado and Melissa Gonzalez.
 
The lead evaporated quickly as the Bulldogs scored three times in the third. The first four hitters reached base, two by walks and two on singles. After a run-scoring single by Megan Mullen drove in the first run, a misplayed ball on a throw home scored the equalizer and a single through the right side by Tyra Kerr pushed across the go-ahead run.
 
With the game still in the balance, U-Mary couldn't generate any offense, scratching out two hits over the next four innings. UMD extended its lead with a single run in the fifth and sealed the contest by plating three runs in the sixth.
 
Ormsby posted three of the Marauders four hits in the game, adding two singles to her first inning double.
 
Kerr led UMD with three hits. Julia Nealor earned the win, allowing four hits and two unearned runs in the seven inning complete game.
 
As in the first game, the Marauders scored the opening run of the nightcap. After leading off the second inning with a walk, Allison Brown reached second on an error before scoring on a second Bulldogs miscue.
 
The Bulldogs responded with two runs in the third. Kerr hit a run-scoring triple to even the game and scored on a single up the middle by Kierra Jeffers. UMD extended its lead to 3-1 on a Kerr RBI single to right in the fourth.
 
Brown would use her legs to pull U-Mary within a run in the bottom of the fourth. After again working a leadoff walk, Brown stole second and third before scoring on a single through the middle by Brooke Hageness.
 
U-Mary would have one base runner reach base in both the fifth and seventh innings but was unable to scratch across a run.
 
Alvarado registered two of U-Mary's four hits in the game.
 
Emily Sinclair threw a complete game for the Marauders, striking out four and allowing seven hits. Mullen earned the win for the Bulldogs, allowing three hits and striking out seven.
 
U-Mary slips to 18-13 overall and 9-7 in the NSIC. UMD improves to 29-17 and 11-5.
 
The Marauders next host Upper Iowa University on April 14 at 1 PM.
 
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