Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BISMARCK, N.D.—The University of Mary softball team (26-18, 11-9 NSIC) split with University of Minnesota Duluth (21-17, 7-6 NSIC) Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun softball action. U-Mary dropped the first game 4-2, but bounced back in the second game for a 9-7 win.
 
Taylor Mendez and Julissa Perales each had four hits on the day for the Marauders. Mendez also added three RBI on a three-run home run in the second game. Allison Brown was 3-for-7 on the day, including a grand slam in the second game.
 
Cherlyn Trujillo picked up the decisions in both games pitching 11.2 innings. Trujillo struck out eight and allowed five earned runs.
 
GAME 1
 
Digging an early hole in the opener, U-Mary was able to tie the game late, but ultimately fell 4-2 in eight innings.
 
Brown was 2-for-3 in the game with a walk and a run scored. Trujillo pitched seven strong innings to start the game, allowing just one earned run, but was saddled with the loss after giving up two runs in the eighth.
 
U-Mary spotted UMD two extra outs in the first, and the Bulldogs took full advantage scoring two runs on two hits to take an early 2-0 lead.
 
After Brown led off the bottom of the inning with a single, Amber Gamboa eventually drove her in with a single through the left side.
 
With Demaree Rodriguez leading off the fifth with an infield single, Erin Keen singled through the left side to tie the game at 2-2, which eventually forced extra innings.
 
The Bulldogs started the extra frame with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt, UMD had runners at second and third with one out. Trujillo was able to strike the next batter out, but the ensuing hitter singled to center to score two runs as they Bulldogs went on to win 4-2.
 
U-Mary is now 2-12 when allowing its opponent to score in the first inning. The Marauders outhit the Bulldogs 8-6 in the game.
 
GAME 2
 
Led by pair a pair of multi-run home runs in game two, the Marauders held on for a 9-7 win to salvage a split.
 
Brown's second career grand slam gave U-Mary an early 5-2 lead. Mendez added some insurance in the third with a three run home run to extend the Marauders lead to 8-2. 
 
Brown's other grand slam came last year on March 5, in a 6-4 win over Wilmington.
 
Alana Norman got the scoring started for U-Mary as she scored on a wild pitch after tripling to left field in the first. However, the Bulldogs hit a two-run home run in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead.
 
The long ball trend continued, this time for the Marauders, as a grand slam by Brown and a three-run home run by Mendez gave U-Mary an 8-2 lead after three innings.
 
Two errors and a walk by the Marauders in the fourth loaded the bases for the Bulldogs. UMD scored three unearned runs on two hits to close the gap to 8-5. 
 
The Bulldogs hit a solo home run in both the fifth and seventh inning, but the Marauders held on for a 9-7 win.
 
Keen started for U-Mary and allowed five runs, only two of which were earned, as she was relieved by Trujillo. Trujillo picked up her 12th win of the season allowing just two hits in 3.2 innings of work.
 
Francine Villalobos was hit by two pitches in the game, including once with bases loaded. Villalobos was hit a total of three times on the day.
 
U-Mary outhit UMD 12-7 in game two.
 
ON DECK
 
U-Mary will be back in action on the road on April 23 against Bemidji State University.

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