Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D.—Despite a dominant opening game performance, the University of Mary softball team (19-13, 4-4 NSIC) had to settle for a split Saturday afternoon against Upper Iowa University (10-16, 3-3 NSIC) at Herb Parker Stadium. The Marauders took the first game 6-0, but got behind early in the second as they fell 6-4 to the Peacocks.
 
Amber Gamboa finished the day going 5-for-6 with a home run and two RBI. Allison Brown was 4-for-7 with a home run and four RBI.
 
Pitcher Erin Keen struck out nine over 7.2 innings of work without allowing a single earned run.
 
GAME 1
 
With six first innings hits, U-Mary had their best first inning of the season as it jumped ahead 5-0 en route to a 6-0 win over Upper Iowa.
 
Gamboa was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game and was one of six players with an RBI for the Marauders. Keen picked up a complete game shutout, while fanning eight and scattering five hits.
 
U-Mary led off the bottom of the first with three consecutive singles, including an RBI single through the left side by Kristin Ormsby to score Allison Brown. After an RBI fielder's choice, Gamboa doubled to score Ormsby. Taylor Mendez and Demaree Rodriguez each followed with RBI singles to give the Marauders a commanding 5-0 lead.
 
The fourth inning was the Peacocks best opportunity to score as they loaded the bases with one out. After getting the next batter to fly out, Keen faced a bases loaded, two-out, full count situation. With Upper Iowa having a chance to get back in the game, Keen froze the Peacocks with a changeup to end the inning.
 
U-Mary added a run in the bottom of the inning to increase its lead to six as Brown doubled down the left field line to score D. Rodriguez. Keen shutdown UIU the rest of the game securing a 6-0 victory for the Marauders and earning her 10th win of the season (10-6).
 
GAME 2
 
After a hot start to the first game, U-Mary struggled early and was never able to overcome a 3-0 deficit as it fell 6-4 to Upper Iowa.
 
Brown and Gamboa each had two hits for the Marauders and each hit solo home runs. Brown was 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a two RBI double.
 
Cherlyn Trujillo made her first appearance since March 9 relieving Keen, who relieved starter MeLanie Rodriguez. Trujillo pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs, while striking out five.
 
The Peacocks jumped ahead 3-0, despite only having one hit in the first two innings combined. A leadoff double in the first turned into a run for UIU in the first. The Peacocks drew three walks in the second inning, including one with the bases loaded to score two runs, without recording a hit
 
With two outs in the bottom of the inning D. Rodriguez doubled, Francine Villalobos was hit by a pitch and Keen singled to load the bases. Brown pulled the Marauders within one with a two RBI double down right field line on the first she saw.
 
The fifth inning saw both teams score a run as both team's leadoff hitters hit leadoff home runs. Brown's shot to center was her sixth of the season and the 32nd of her career.
 
Leading by one, the Peacocks combined three hits with an error by the Marauders to go ahead 6-3.
 
Gamboa led off the bottom of the inning with a homer to right field as U-Mary pulled within two, but the Marauders were unable to muster any further offense as they fell 6-4.
 
Up Next
 
U-Mary will back in action at 3 p.m. tomorrow in a Northern Sun doubleheader against No. 19 Winona State University at Herb Parker Stadium.
 
#marauders#