Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D.—Losing a hard-fought opening game against No. 19 Winona State University (22-6, 5-3 NSIC), the University of Mary softball team (19-15, 4-6 NSIC) was plagued by errors in its second game as the Marauders were swept by the Warriors Sunday afternoon in Northern Sun action. The Marauders fell 4-1 in the first game and 11-3 in the second.
 
Alana Norman led U-Mary's offense going 4-for-6 on the day with a stolen base.
 
GAME 1
 
U-Mary drew first blood in the first game taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, but two-run innings by Winona State in the fifth and the seventh innings dropped the Marauders 4-1.
 
The Marauders lone run of the game came as Amber Gamboa hit her third home run of the season on a shot to left field with one out in the fourth inning.
 
In the top of the fifth inning WSU used a pair of two-out hits to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Francine Villalobos led off the bottom of the inning with a single and Norman added a two-out bunt single, but the Marauders were unable to capitalize.
 
With one out in the seventh inning the Warriors added two more runs with a two-run home run to take a three-run lead.
 
The Marauders went down in order in the bottom of the inning as they dropped the opener 4-1.
 
Cherlyn Trujillo started the game in the circle for U-Mary pitching a complete game in her first start since March 9. Trujillo finished with seven strikeouts and allowed four earned runs.
 
GAME 2
 
The Marauders dug themselves an early hole in the second game spotting the Warriors a 6-0 lead before their offense hit the field as they went on to lose 11-3.
 
Brown went 2-for-3 in the game with a double and an RBI.
 
A defensive lapse in the first inning by U-Mary gave WSU an extra out and the Warriors took advantage scoring six runs on three hits, including a two-out three-run home run. Just two of Winona State's runs in the inning were earned.
 
Norman recorded her 14th bunt single of the season in the bottom of the inning and stole second, but the Marauders next three batters went down in order.
 
The Warriors added three more runs in the second, two of which were unearned, as they took a 9-0 lead. Winona State added another unearned run in the third to go ahead 10-0.
 
It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth when the Marauders finally broke through as Brown doubled to left field to score Villalobos. On the throw to the plate Brown advanced to third, before eventually scoring off of an errant throw by the Warriors catcher to close the gap to eight.
 
Needing a run to keep the game alive, Demaree Rodriguez homered to right field, her third of the season, with one out in the fifth to make the score 10-3.
 
Unfortunately, WSU responded with a home run of its own to take go back ahead by eight. Unable to score a run, U-Mary went on to fall 11-3 in six innings.
 
Erin Keen was the Marauders starting pitcher allowing 11 runs in six innings of work, however, just four of the runs were earned as U-Mary committed four errors.
 
UP NEXT
 
U-Mary will host Minnesota State University Moorhead in a Northern Sun doubleheader on Wednesday, April 9, with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
 
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