Baseball | 3/31/2015 1:03:00 AM

TUESDAY
After playing their first 22 games of the season on the road, the University of Mary baseball team opens a ten-game home stand on Tuesday, March 31, against Augustana. The Northern Sun doubleheader against the Vikings begins at 1:30 p.m. at Municipal Ballpark.
 
THIS WEEKEND
The Marauders home stand continues when U-Mary hosts the University of Sioux Falls Cougars in a four-game weekend series on Friday and Saturday, April 3-4. Games begin at 1:30 p.m. on Friday while Saturday's twin bill commences at 12 noon.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 3-19 overall and 1-7 in the Northern Sun… The Vikings are 13-10 and 4-4, playing all eight conference games at home… Prior to their March 31 home doubleheader against the University of Minnesota Crookston, the Cougars are 7-17 and 4-4.
 
HOME AND AWAY
Of the 10 teams in the Northern Sun currently with a .500 record or better, seven of the teams have played all their conference games at home. The Marauders have played all eight of their league games on the road.
 
WELCOME HOME!
After playing home games primarily on campus the past two years, the Marauders finally return to a renovated Municipal Ballpark. Following $3 million in renovations to the grandstand and the field, the remodeled Municipal Ballpark officially opened last summer and is now one of the best fields in the region. New dugouts, fences and a soon-to-be-completed practice field provide improved opportunities for players.
For spectators, the facility features a new grandstand with individual stadium seats, an overhanging canopy to provide shade, improved concessions and restroom facilities, vastly improved sightlines and an upgraded scoreboard. Fans behind home plate are now approximately 25 feet closer to the action than prior to the renovation. Seating improves from 1,000 to 1,600 with the possibility to hold 2,000 fans. Additionally, the press box was greatly expanded.
 
ROAD MAP
Many Marauders and fans may need directions to Municipal Ballpark. U-Mary last played on the home field full-time in 2012. Bad weather and poor field conditions limited the Marauders to a single doubleheader at "Muni" in 2013 when Northern State came to visit on May 1. In 2014 Muni was unavailable due to a $3 million renovation.
 
ASK ME FOR DIRECTIONS
Only three current members of the Marauders have played college baseball at Municipal Ballpark: lefthanded pitchers Michael Vollrath, Travis Famias and McKeon Meyhoff. Both Vollrath and Famias pitched in the Marauders 4-2 win over Northern State at Muni on May 1, 2013.
 
YOUNG
Of the 13 Marauders who have ten or more at bats this season, three are juniors, three are sophomores, three are redshirt freshmen and four are true freshmen. Junior shortstop Mason Schiff and sophomore outfielders Andrew Beyer and Trenten Hove are the lone returning starters for the Marauders. Newcomer Sean Hennen, a junior, has moved into the lineup daily at catcher and right field. Redshirt freshman Seth Meide has locked down second and freshmen Will Pettener and Brett Doepker have played primarily first and third, respectively. Another freshman, Tom Imholte, is the backup catcher. Another newcomer, junior Cory Dixon, has seen considerable time in right field. Sophomore junior college transfer Drew Fueurbach has played at third and the outfield
 
WELCOME BACK
After missing last season while recovering from an injury, McKeon Meyhoff has moved to the top of the Marauders rotation. The junior lefty leads U-Mary with 30.1 innings pitched and is second with 21 strikeouts. He also has a complete game. In all five starts Meyhoff has gone at least five innings and posted a career-high eight against nationally-ranked Minnesota State.
 
ON BASE MACHINE
Andrew Beyer has found a high level of comfort at the top of the Marauders lineup. The sophomore outfielder is reaching base at a clip of .462, the 13^th best on base percentage in the Northern State. He leads the NSIC with 24 walks. His 12 runs scored and five stolen bases lead the Marauders.
 
EVERYDAY KENNY
Freshman hurler Kenny Slominski quickly has established himself as the person to go to in the Marauders bullpen. He leads all NSIC pitchers with 13 appearances, all in relief. Slominski has pitched 13.2 innings with nine strikeouts.
 
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