ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Returning to the diamond after a two-week hiatus, the University of Mary Softball team made their final road trip before the start of the conference schedule to the 2016 Apple Market Classic hosted by Missouri Western State University.
 
The Marauders (5-11) were overwhelmed during the afternoon as they dropped a pair of contests, first to the Griffons (18-7) at 8-1, and second to the University of Central Missouri (14-13) at 7-1, on the first day of games.
 
GAME ONE U-MARY vs MISSOURI WESTERN STATE
 
U-Mary ran into trouble in the first inning against the Giffons as Missouri Western notched two runs in the bottom half after an errant throw on a stolen base allowed the first run to score and was followed shortly by loaded bases after a pair of walks were issued from U-Mary. Missouri Western added the second run after Katie Klostermann drove a single into left field, but thankfully a fly ball and strikeout quelled any subsequent scoring threat in the inning.
 
Unfortunately, the Marauder's woes weren't limited to the defensive aspect of the game as starting pitcher Shyanne Saladino baffled U-Mary batters and held them to four hits over the course of the game, three of which came by the fourth inning, while the Griffons padded their lead in the bottom of the second on a two-run triple from Shelbie Atwell to right field, followed by a Kailey Green RBI single back up the middle, and capped off by Klostermann reaching on an error that allowed Green to score and put the score at 6-0 heading into the third.
 
Missouri Western added yet another run in the bottom half of the third after Atwell singled through the right side to score Morgan Rathmann for a 7-0 Griffon lead before the Marauders could finally manage a response in the top of the fourth.
 
Shawnee Zink drove a one-out double to the right center gap and eventually made it to third on a wild pitch during Kylie Alto's at bat. Alto was credited with the RBI as she grounded out to the second baseman that allowed Zink to score, but it would be the only run U-Mary would record as the Griffons got their final run in the bottom of the fourth on a solo shot from Green for an 8-1 lead.
 
Saladino took over from that point as she gave up only one hit to the Marauders through the remainder of the game, despite U-Mary getting a leadoff double from Taylor Mendez in the top of the fifth followed by Amber Gamboa drawing the walk for two runners and nobody out in the inning. Alas, back-to-back fielder's choice groundouts doomed any momentum U-Mary had and the inning ended on a hotshot line drive from Colleen Crutchfield, allowing Missouri Western to coast to an 8-1 decision in the opening game.
 
Taylor Mendez and Shawnee Zink both recorded a double in the game, while Demaree Rodriguez and Colleen Crutchfield notched a single apiece.
 
MeLanie Rodriguez took the decision on the day as she went two innings and allowed five earned runs, while Brieann Backes pitched four innings of relief and couldn't slow the Griffon offense as they recorded two runs during her time in the circle.
 
GAME TWO U-MARY vs CENTRAL MISSOURI
 
The second game started off differently for U-Mary as Taylor Lara got the bill in the circle for the Marauders, but the Jennies did take the first lead of the contest in the bottom half of the first on single from Alex Leonhart that scored Lauren Mabe. The Marauders responded quickly in the top of the second, however, as Zink doubled to right center and Alto reached on an error by the second baseman for two runners and nobody out.
 
Crutchfield drew the walk on four straight pitches out of the zone and after a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Alexandra McDermott reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Zink to score. The inning came to an abrupt halt, unfortunately, as Alana Norman grounded to the third baseman and was unable to beat the throw into first base to put the score at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the second inning.
 
Luck wasn't on U-Mary's side in the bottom half of the inning with Central Missouri scoring the first run on a double steal that brought in Austin Eickleberry for a 2-1 Jennie lead, followed by Alexis Koop's bunt single back to the pitcher that brought in Brittany Kendall for a 3-1 lead favoring Central Missouri.
 
The small ball approached paved the way for the power as Mabe drove a three-run shot over the left center field fence for a 6-1 Jennie lead and Jordan Johnson took over for Central Missouri as she limited U-Mary to one hit through the remainder of the game. The Jennies got their final run in the bottom of the third as Kendall grounded out to the second baseman to bring in Keelia Martin for the 7-1 decision.
 
Demaree Rodriguez recorded two of U-Mary's three hits, both singles, while Shawnee Zink notched the other on her double in the second inning.
 
Taylor Lara took the decision in the game as she went 3.1 innings pitched with seven earned runs given up, while Brieann Backes pitched a perfect 2.2 innings of relief as she retired every batter she faced.
 
The Marauders will have two more games tomorrow although the start times have been pushed back one hour due to forecasted inclement weather early in the morning in St. Joseph, Mo. The first game is scheduled for 11 AM against Missouri Southern State University while the second game is scheduled for 5 PM against Pittsburg State University.
 
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