BISMARCK, N.D. - Finally returning to the diamond after a two-week layover, the University of Mary Softball team took on their upstate rivals, Minot State University, the Northern Sun Conference Schedule opener at the U-Mary Softball Field.
 
The weather forecast was set for cloudy with plenty of wind, but even then the Marauders (11-16, 0-1 NSIC) struggled to shake off the rust as the Beavers (20-4, 1-0 NSIC) turned the game into a home run derby, handing a 15-2 loss to U-Mary in a game doomed from the start.
 
The game time weather was around 45 degrees with the wind heading south-southeast at 16 mph, but the rain turned into a factor as the clouds opened up enough to turn the game miserable but not enough to call the game outright. Anybody who has pitched at some point in their life can attest to how much influence the weather has on the pitches and that certainly was the case here as Nena Dudley got the start in the circle, but her payoff breaking ball pitches were ineffective during the game.
 
Minot State opened up the scoring early in the top of the first as Ali Cygan doubled down the right field line to score Jordan Grant, and Cygan was driven in off an Ashley Hill home run to deep left field, putting U-Mary in an early 3-0 hole.
 
The Marauders got one back in the bottom of the first after a lead off walk and stolen base from Alana Norman gave U-Mary a runner at second with nobody out. Julissa Perales came up to the plate with one out and drove Norman in from second with a single to shallow center field to cut into the Beaver lead at 3-1.
 
Unfortunately, the scoring opened up in the second.
 
Minot State got a solo shot from Leyna Downey, followed that up with a three-run jack to right center from Melissa Bell, and capped off with an RBI double from Rachel Burdette to put the Marauders in a deep 8-1 deficit.
 
U-Mary wasn't able to respond in either the second or third innings, but the Beavers piled on to their lead with a solo home run from Sarah Nicks in the top of the third, another solo shot from Bell in the top of the fourth, and one more from Cygan in the fourth to extend their lead to 11-1.
 
The Marauders finally broke up the monotony of home runs in the fourth inning when Amber Gamboa sent a sacrifice fly ball to right center to score Nicole O'Haver from third base, but that was all U-Mary could muster as Minot State added two more home runs in the fifth. Hill fired off a three-run home run to left center to put the lead at 14-2, and Burdette had the last word with a solo home run to center field to put the score at 15-2, which ended up being the final score.
 
Despite the lack of offense from U-Mary the usual suspects were productive as Norman got a hit along with a walk and a stolen base.
 
Kristin Ormsby also got a hit and brought her glove to the game with several key putouts on groundballs.
 
Perales went 1-for-2 in the game with an RBI and was also hit by a pitch.
 
The last hit came from Dudley who also registered a stolen base in the game.
 
The second game of the day is postponed until further notice.
 
If the second game between U-Mary and Minot State isn't rescheduled for later this wekk, then the Marauders will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, March 28, to take on Augustana College.
 
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