Bismarck, N.D.— Facing two of the stingiest pitchers in the nation, the University of Mary knew they would have their hands full with Minot State University. The combination of stellar pitching and a myriad of home runs by Minot State (20-1, 2-0 NSIC) was just too much to overcome as U-Mary (11-8, 0-2 NSIC) dropped both games of the doubleheader on Thursday to open Northern Sun play. The Marauders dropped the first game 11-2 in six innings, before falling 12-2 in five to wrap up the day at the Bismarck Community Bowl.

The Beavers' pitchers combined to strikeout 15 Marauders' hitters in 11 innings of play, while only allowing seven hits and two walks. MSU's batters were perhaps even more impressive scoring 23 runs on eight round-trippers.

Leading the nation in batting average, Jenn Dixon finished 6-of-8 with three home runs and six runs batted in the two games.

Catcher Julissa Perales was U-Mary's top batter going 2-for-5 with a home run and a triple. Perales was one of just two Marauders to finish with two hits on the day, with Allison Brown (2-for-5) being the other.

In game one Erin Keen put together a strong first inning, but a pair of walks in the second led to a six run inning by Minot. The Marauders had a chance to get out of the inning allowing just two runs, but a two out error allowed the Beavers to tack on four more. Keen would allow two more runs before eventually being relieved by Cherlyn Trujillo.

Down 8-0 through three and a half, Alana Norman led off the bottom of the inning with a walk becoming the Marauders' first base runner of the day. After a sacrifice bunt from Jessica Alvarado, Brown hit a towering ball to the right side of the infield that snuck in for a hit. Two batters later Perales hit a triple to the right field fence to score Brown and Norman.

In the sixth the Beavers added two more runs on a pair of four-baggers to increase their lead to nine. The Marauders put together a pair of hits in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to score as they fell 11-2 in six innings.

U-Mary got behind early in the second game as well, giving up a first innings two-run home run to Dixon, her third of the day.  Kimberly McKnight led off the bottom of the third with a sharply hit single to centerfield and was sacrificed to second by Keen, but the Marauders were unable to produce a run.

Down just 2-0 after three, the Beavers put up a crooked number in the fourth. With a runner at first and two outs, U-Mary had a chance to get out of the inning but a costly error led to five unearned runs. Perales put U-Mary on the board in the bottom of the inning with a solo jack, her fourth of the year. The Beavers added five more in the top of the fifth to open the game up to 12-1. Only able to score one in the bottom of the fifth, the game ended with a final of 12-2.

U-Mary will be back in action on Fri. March 28 as they host Southwest Minnesota State (8-6, 1-1 NSIC) in a doubleheader that begins at 11 a.m. The game will be played on the University of Mary campus.

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