Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Bismarck, ND – Tyler Steffan hit a walk-off grand slam for the University of Mary to cap a wild opening game that featured a triple play. The win secured a doubleheader split for the Marauders with Upper Iowa University. U-Mary rallied to win game one 7-3 before Upper Iowa captured the second contest 15-4.
 
Playing at home for the final time, the senior centerfielder from Dickinson, ND, capped a five-run Marauders rally when he lined a shot over the left field fence with two outs. The Marauders had led from the first inning until the Peacocks plated three runs in the top of the seventh, setting up Steffan for the clutch blow.
 
The Marauders opened the scoring in the first. Steffan led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a fly ball to right by James Carroll delivered the first run of the game. In the second, Duane Kiyota Jr. took a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild throw into center by the catcher, and scored on a base hit to left by Derek Sommerville.
 
The Peacocks were poised to take the lead in the third, loading the bases with no outs, but the Marauders would come out unscathed by turning a triple play.   
 
Duane Kiyota Jr. made a diving catch in left center for the first out. Attempting to double off Mikey Henrichs off of first, shortstop Alex Deyle's throw sailed past Marauders first baseman Steve Pletan into foul territory. Trying to score from second on the overthrow, Rudy Casillas was gunned down at home on a strong throw from Pletan to Carroll for the sweeping tag. U-Mary then appealed that Tyler Adams left third base before the ball was caught. The umpires agreed and Adams became the third out on a triple play to end a scoreless inning.
 
Matt Franck was stellar on the mound for the Marauders, holding the Peacocks scoreless through six innings. The senior from Cresbard, SD, managed to escape jams all day, stranding 11 Upper Iowa runners on base in the first six innings.
 
The Peacocks finally reached Franck in the seventh. After retiring the first hitter of the inning, Upper Iowa hit a single and a double to place runners in scoring position. Travis Famias entered in relief and was tagged for a double to left by Ryan Kreiner to drive in one run. John Dobson then hit the third straight double for Upper Iowa, scoring two runs with a shot to right center to provide the Peacocks their first run of the day.
 
U-Mary quickly rallied. Kyal Williams singled through the left side to lead off the inning. Marice Burrough came on to pinch run and was sacrificed by Kiyota to second before a wild pitch moved him to third. Pletan ripped a single down the third base line to score Burrough and even the game. A double to Sommerville and an intentional walk to Deyle followed. After a fly out to center, Steffan stepped to the plate and ended the game with a walk-off shot over the left field fence.
 
Steffan was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Sommerville was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
Four different Peacocks had two hits apiece in the game.
 
Franck allowed two runs on 11 hits and three walks in 6.1 innings. He posted two strikeouts.
 
Just as in game one, the Marauders struck first in the nightcap. In the first inning, Steffan scored on a sacrifice fly by Sommerville.
 
The lead was short-lived as Upper Iowa posted three runs in the second. After scoring another run in the third, John Dobson capped a four-run fifth inning with a three-run home run, increasing the Peacocks lead to 8-1.
 
The Marauders scored one in the fifth and two in the sixth to cut the deficit in half but the Peacocks would pull away with two more runs in the seventh, one in the eighth and four more in the ninth.
 
Cory Herback and Sam Ingemansen both had two hits for the Marauders, who posted nine hits in the game.
 
The Peacocks banged out 18 hits. Krause led the way with four and Henrichs had three. He also scored three times and drove in three runs.
 
After playing their last games at home today, the Marauders begin a six-game road swing with a doubleheader at Augustana on Tuesday, May 1, at 12 noon.  
 
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