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Box Score 2 Sioux Falls, S.D.--Tied for the 10th and final playoff spot, the University of Mary softball team answered the call with a sweep of fifth place Augustana (29-12, 16-8 NSIC). U-Mary took the first game 3-2 and followed in the second with a 4-2 victory.
The Marauders'
Cherlyn Trujillo picked up her 15th and 16th wins of the season going the distance in both games and allowing just three earned runs. The lefty scattered 10 hits on the day while striking out 12.
Allison Brown continued her stellar offensive season going 3-for-5 and blasting her 9th home run of the year. Brown finished with 2 RBI and scored 3 runs.
As U-Mary's offensive got off to a slow start in game one, Trujillo found her groove on the mound right way. The transfer from San Jose, Calif. struck out six and did not allow a hit through three innings.
The Marauders' offense got on the board in the fourth as
Erin Keen led off the inning with a single up the middle. With two outs
Julissa Perales singled to put runners at the corners.
Demaree Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to put U-Mary on the board.
With two outs in the fifth Brown sent a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to score Keen and give the Marauders a 3-0 lead. Trujillo continued her dominance, but a U-Mary throwing error in the sixth allowed an unearned run to score cutting the lead to two.
The Vikings threatened in the seventh with three straight one out singles to score a run, but U-Mary held on for a 3-2 win. Trujillo struck out 10 in game one and allowed just four hits.
In the second game the Marauders' offense started strong scoring two first inning runs on four hits.
Brittney Hadley doubled to score Keen and Perales followed with a single to score Brown. U-Mary added another run in the second as two hits and a walk left Hadley at the dish with bases loaded. Hadley drew a four-pitch walk to score
Alana Norman and give the Marauders a 3-0 lead.
U-Mary added an insurance run in the fifth as Perales singled to center to score Brown and give U-Mary a 4-0 lead.
Augustana responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally that consisted of three straight singles that scored two runs and closed the gap to two runs.
U-Mary's offense stalled the final two innings and the Marauders entered the bottom of the seventh with a two run lead. A single and an error put two on for the Vikings with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt put the game-tying run in scoring position and sent the Vikings' leadoff hitter to the plate. Augustana popped up to the catcher, but U-Mary walked the next batter to load the bases. Trujillo pitched out of the jam as the Viking's third batter watched three consecutive pitches to end the game.
With the sweep, U-Mary extended their winning streak to five and improved their conference record to 12-10 (23-16 overall). Tied with Northern State heading into the day, the Marauders now have a two game lead over the Wolves for the final Northern Sun playoff spot. U-Mary will be back in action on Sunday as they take on Wayne State at noon and can lock up a playoff spot with a pair of wins.
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