Bismarck, ND—Despite near freezing game time temperatures, the University of Mary's offense ignited for 18 runs on 24 hits in a sweep of Minnesota State University Moorhead. In the first game U-Mary got on top early with a five run third before winning by a final of 8-3. In the second game it took the Marauders extra innings to secure an 11-4 victory.
Sophomore
Erin Keen did it all for the Marauders (18-13, 7-7 NSIC) starting both games on the mound, picking up a pair of wins and going 4-for-9 at the plate. Pitching all 15 innings, Keen allowed just six earned runs and picked up seven strikeouts.
Alana Norman had a team-high five hits going 5-for-8 on the day and boosting her average from .311 to .337.
Shortstop Taylor Huss was the offensive star for MSU Moorhead (2-27, 0-14 NSIC) going 5-for-7 with a double and two runs scored.
With the games originally scheduled to be played in Moorhead, the Dragons were the home team for both games.
In game one U-Mary was held scoreless in the first two innings before exploding for a five run third. After scoring three runs courtesy of three Dragons' errors, catcher
Julissa Perales punctuated the inning with a two-run home run to left field. MSUM responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own.
Keen got in a groove scattering four hits in the final four innings and not allowing an earned run.
The Marauders added to their lead in the fifth as
Allison Brown led off the inning with a single and Perales followed two batters later by drawing a walk. With two outs
Kimberly McKnight hit a two run double to left center. McKnight was followed by
Kristin Ormsby who tripled to right center to give U-Mary an 8-2 lead.
The Dragons were able to score a run in the bottom of the sixth due to a fielding error by the Marauders, but U-Mary held on for an 8-3 win.
Brittney Hadley got the Marauders on the board right away in the second game with an RBI triple to right center that scored Keen, but the Dragons answered right back with a run in the bottom of the first. Moorhead added another run in the bottom of the second to take their first lead of the day at 2-1.
Scattering two hits between the second and fourth inning, the Marauders put together four hits in the fifth to score three runs. Keen shot the gap in right center for a double that scored
Jessica Alvarado.
Allison Brown followed Keen with a two-run blast to left field to give the Marauders a 4-2 lead.
After allowing runs in the first and second, Keen settled down to pitch four and two thirds scoreless innings to put U-Mary one out away from a 4-2 win. With the snow beginning to fall, the Dragon rallied with two outs as Huss singled up the middle. The next MSUM batter followed with a single to put runners at first and second. With a force out at any base and two outs, second baseman Kristen Nordby came up clutch with a two run double to tie the game and send it to extras.
The Marauders had no interest in continuing the game beyond eight innings as they exploded with an eight hit, seven run top of the inning. Ormsby started the action with a double to left center and was followed by a bunt single from Norman. Alvarado was up next and hit a slow roller to the left side for an infield single. On the play Ormsby scored on a throwing error. Norman would go on to score on a wild pitch, before
Allison Brown singled to score Alvarado. Perales added a two-run single to score
Jessica Moorhouse and Brown. Norman finished the scoring with her second hit of the inning to score Ormsby and give the Marauders an 11-4 lead.
After striking out the first batter, Keen surrendered a single to center and the next batter reached on a fielding error. After a fielder's choice U-Mary was just one out away from securing the victory. The Dragons' Amanda Lynch drove the ball to right field, but the Marauders'
Caitlin Bay was on the case with a running catch to end the game.
Pounding out a season-high 17 hits, U-Mary's first three batters; Alvarado, Keen and Brown, each finished with two hits.
Demaree Rodriguez and Ormsby also added two hits.
U-Mary is scheduled to play next against Minnesota State University Mankato on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a Northern Sun doubleheader.
