BISMARCK, N.D. – Drew Fueurbach pounded out five hits on Good Friday but was unable to get his teammates to follow suit as the University of Mary was swept by visiting University of Sioux Falls by identical 4-2 scores in a Northern Sun doubleheader.
The Marauders utility man went 5-for-7 with two doubles and a run scored in the two games. Playing third base in the opener, Fueurbach was 2-for-3 with a double. He followed up with a 3-for-4 performance with a double and a run scored while playing right field and left. Overall the Marauders managed 15 hits total in the two games.
Both contests were played in similar fashion. USF (11-17 overall, 8-4 NSIC) scored the first four runs in each game with U-Mary (3-23, 1-11) forced to battle from behind.
Fueurbach looked to give the Marauders a lead in the opener when he crushed a ball to right field leading off the second inning. Rounding the bases for what initially looked like a potential inside the park home run, the Omaha, Neb., native was sent back to second since the ball went into the ivy on the fence for a ground rule double based on Municipal Ballpark ground rules. Fueurbach eventually reached third but was stranded on a failed delayed steal play by the Marauders.
A three-run home run by Tony Stanich in the fourth provided the Cougars all the runs they needed. Matthew Minninck grew the USF lead to 4-0 with a solo homer in the fifth.
The Marauders found the plate in the fifth inning.
Seth Meide stroked a one out single to right center to score
Mason Schiff and
Trenten Hove, cutting the U-Mary deficit to 4-2.
Alex Wall then regained his groove for the Cougars, retiring eight of the next nine Marauders. Four of the outs were on strikeouts, including all three hitters in the sixth inning.
Feuerbach posted two of the Marauders six hits in the opener. The Cougars recorded seven hits in the game by seven different players.
Both team's pitchers tossed complete games.
McKeon Meyhoff allowed seven hits and three walks while striking out three in seven innings. Wall struck out seven and limited U-Mary to six hits and one walk.
The scoring began a little earlier in the night cap. With U-Mary starter Josh Johnson struggling with control and a defensive miscue extending the first inning, USF scored twice for a 2-0 lead. The Cougars added single runs in the second and fifth innings to build a 4-0 advantage.
A Fueurbach double to lead off the eighth inning keyed a two-run rally for the Marauders. A one-out pinch hit single to left by
Clay Bassingthwaite drove home Fueurbach with the first U-Mary run. Bassingthwaite soon scored on a two-out single up the middle by
Mason Schiff to pull U-Mary within 4-2.
Still down two,
Andrew Beyer led off the ninth with a walk. In a controversial call that resulted in the ejection of Marauders head coach
Joel Barta, Beyer was called out sliding into third in an attempt to advance on a groundout by Meide. The double play effectively ended the U-Mary attempt to rally in the 4-2 loss.
Joining Fueurbach with multiple hits was Beyer and Hennen. Beyer finished 2-for-4 with a walk. Hennen went 2-for-5.
Brent Jarvis led the USF offense, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and three RBIs. Tanner Olthoff added two hits and Jordan Jeske scored twice.
Johnson threw five innings for the Marauders, striking out eight and allowing three earned runs on eight hits and five walks. Four U-Mary relievers –
Will Pettener,
Travis Famias,
Zach Steckler and
Kenny Slominski – all worked a scoreless inning apiece to keep the Marauders in the game.
Kaycee Myrlie allowed one run on seven hits and no walks in seven innings to gain the win. He struck out six.
The Marauders and the Cougars return to Municipal Field for a second NSIC doubleheader on Saturday, April 4. First pitch is set for 12 noon.
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