Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Marshall, MN – The University of Mary overcame a three run deficit late in the second game and the Marauders swept their final regular season doubleheader of the year to clinch fifth place in the final 2012 Northern Sun standings. Using numerous miscues by Southwest Minnesota State University, the Marauders defeated the Mustangs 7-4 in the opener and 8-4 in the second contest. The U-Mary sweep knocked SMSU out of the playoffs.
 
The fifth place finish is the best for the Marauders since the NSIC expanded to 14 teams in 2009. U-Mary tied for fourth in the league in 2007 and 2008 in the 10 team circuit. The Marauders finished the regular season 26-17 overall and 15-11 in league play. SMSU finished the year 21-21 and 12-14.
 
The NSIC tournament bracket will be released later today. The tournament runs April 26-28 in Rochester, MN.
 
The Marauders pounded out 12 hits in the opener but seven Mustangs errors were crucial to U-Mary jumping out to a 7-0 lead.
 
After the opening two hitters were retired, Melissa Gonzalez doubled to left. An error allowed Allison Brown to reach and moved Gonzalez to third to set up a double steal with the Marauders senior shortstop scoring the first run of the game. Two Mustangs errors on the next hitter allowed Brown to score and Sami Antolin followed with a run-scoring single to right for a 3-0 lead.
 
Another SMSU miscue in the second brought home another run and Gonzalez pushed the U-Mary lead to 5-0 with an RBI double.
 
Brittany Hadley doubled in one more Marauders run in the fifth before another Mustangs error allowed her to also score and push the U-Mary lead to 7-1. The Mustangs scratched out single runs in four different innings but could never pull close.  
 
Alvarado had three hits for the Marauders and scored once, one of seven U-Mary players to cross the plate in the game. Button, Gonzalez, Antolin and Hadley each had two hits for the Marauders. Christine Borowiak led SMSU with four hits and scored twice.
 
Erin Keen threw a complete game for the Marauders, striking out four. The freshman walked three and gave up eight hits while picking up her 10^th win of the year.
 
The Marauders broke out on top in the second game also when Kristin Ormsby scored on a ground out by Tricia Clarke.
 
A two-out single by Kaley Scearcy tied the game in the third and a leadoff home run by Chelsey Evans in the fifth inning started a three-run rally to push SMSU ahead 4-1.
 
Six unearned runs highlighted a seven-run sixth inning for the Marauders as U-Mary quickly claimed control of the game. A bases loaded walk to Antolin scored the first run of the inning before an error by the Mustangs attempting to force Gonzalez at home pulled the Marauders within a run and broke open the floodgates. A fielder's choice tied the game before Clarke singled home the go-ahead run. After a popup, Brooke Hageness tripled home two runs and an RBI single by Button capped the U-Mary outburst.
 
Gonzalez led the Marauders seven hit attack with two hits. Ormsby scored twice and Clarke and Hageness drove in two runs each.
 
Scearcy paced the Mustangs with three hits.
 
One day after shutting out #8 Minnesota State, Emily Sinclair improved to 12-5 on the year. She struck out six and allowed eight hits, one walk and four runs in five innings. Rachel Davis tossed two scoreless innings to close out the game.
 
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