BISMARCK, N.D. - In a day that was messy to begin with, the University of Mary Softball team took on Northern State University to kick off the final homestand of the year for U-Mary.
 
The Marauders (19-25, 8-10 NSIC) were one run away from going to extra innings in the first game against the Wolves (24-16, 11-6 NSIC), but ultimately fell 2-1, and U-Mary was down 3-0 in the second game going into the bottom of the third inning before play was suspended for a fire hazard.
 
The weather played a big factor in the first game as there were gusts of up to 40 miles per hour coming straight in from left field. The effect was apparent as there were several foul balls over the first base dugout that were pushed out of play, and even more so in the outfield with plenty of fly balls and line drives that danced in the air before diving into the ground.
 
So instead, the game turned into a pitchers duel as Nena Dudley got the start in the circle against Kami Smesmo, and both pitchers brought the heat as neither team could score a run in conventional fashion.
 
The Marauders had a tough time making adjustments for the wind as a groundball from Eryn Yancy went right back to Dudley in the top of the first inning and the throw back to the shortstop was too hot to handle and allowed the runner at first to advance on an error. Dudley made up for it by striking out the next two batters and U-Mary got out of the inning before any damage could be done.
 
Both pitchers cruised from there as the Marauders couldn't get the bat on the ball, but Northern State struck first in the top of the third inning when Kailie Maiden singled down the left field line to Lauren Kunz from third base and the Wolves had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the third.
 
Smesmo proved tough for U-Mary to hit as she held the Marauders to one hit through five innings, and the Wolves got an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning by taking advantage of some miscues from the Marauders.
 
Rachel Albright led the inning off with a single down the left field line and Macey Engel reached on a fielder's choice error by the second basemen when she grounded to shortstop and the throw to second base was bobbled by the fielder covering the bag.
 
Dudley forced a popup to the shortstop in the next at bat, only for Michaela Liebl to drop the ball down the first base line, and Dudley struck out Kunz swinging for the second out with bases loaded.
 
The run crossed to plate when Dudley couldn't find the zone in the next at bat as she walked Kelsey Gale on four straight pitches that put Northern State ahead at 2-0 after six innings.
 
U-Mary had a runner on base in the bottom of the sixth but couldn't move her across and it came down to their last at bat to finally get on the board. Julissa Perales led the bottom of the seventh inning off with a single to shortstop and beat the throw out, while Colleen Crutchfield drew the walk on a full count to put runners at first and second with nobody out.
 
Amber Gamboa moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt to put them both in scoring position and Demaree Rodriguez brought Perales in with a groundball to the shortstop to cut the lead down to 2-1.
 
Of course the game couldn't end without some controversy and it started with Erin Keen sending a groundball down the first base line that went underneath the first basemen's glove and Lex Hubbard, who was pinch running for Crutchfield, rounded third base and heading home when the throw came in from the right fielder. The play at the plate was incredibly close as the throw was in time, but it appeared that the catcher held the ball directly over the plate which would allow Hubbard to score before getting tagged, or at the very least, slide underneath the tag. Instead, the plate umpire called Hubbard out and the Marauders were left with a bitter taste in their mouths as they fell in the first game, 2-1.
 
During the course of the first game, smoke could be seen rising from just south of the campus as there was a brush fire earlier in the day on Monday, but had apparently started back up today in the afternoon. The second game had begun with Northern State again getting help off some U-Mary miscues to get an early 3-0 lead on the Marauders going into the top of the third inning.
 
Going into the bottom of the first inning, both coaches were briefed by game administrators and the umpires of the possibility of an evacuation during the course of the second game. Ultimately, the umpires suspended the game upon learning that the fire was close to campus and an evacuation order had been issued to all students, faculty, and staff of the University of Mary.
 
Because the game was suspended in the bottom of the third inning, it is, by rule, not a regulation game. Therefore, no stats will be counted until the game is resumed. Unfortunately, it appears that the game will not be made up at a future date, since the regular season will be coming to an end by next Sunday and the Marauders will be unable to make up for the loss in the first game to the Wolves.
 
On the day, Perales, along with Alana Norman and Demaree Rodriguez were the only Marauders to get a base hit, while Dudley pitched seven innings with eight strikeouts and three walks in the complete game loss.
 
As for now, the game against Minot State University is still scheduled for tomorrow at 3 PM at the University of Mary Softball Field.
 
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