ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - On a day where weather played the biggest role, the University of Mary had their final day at the Apple Market Classic cut short as they dropped the lone contest against Washburn University early in the afternoon before making the bus trip back to Bismarck.
 
The Marauders (6-13) found themselves in a mini-home run derby against the Ichabods (12-12) but fell just short in the end as U-Mary ended their trip with a 3-1 loss before having their final game against the University of Central Oklahoma cancelled for a 1-5 final record at the Apple Market Classic.
 
Brieann Backes got the start in the circle for U-Mary against the Ichabods and put in three innings of work while limiting Washburn to five hits. The first two runs of the game came from her lone mistake in the top of the second inning as the Ichabods laced a shot to straight away centerfield for a 2-0 lead.
 
U-Mary responded in the bottom of the fourth as Shawnee Zink sent a solo shot over the left centerfield fence to cut the lead to 2-1, while MeLanie Rodriguez turned in another strong pitching performance in relief as she went four innings in the circle and gave up one hit to go with two strikeouts.
 
Unfortunately, the lone hit she gave up came in the top of the sixth as Washburn added another solo shot of their own for a 3-1 that put the pressure on U-Mary.
 
The Ichabods had a pair of solid pitching performances as Samantha Carson and Ashley Wills limited the Marauders to eight hits over the course of the game while leaving eight U-Mary runners stranded in that stretch.
 
The Marauders had a chance to cut the lead down in the final inning as Alana Norman drove a double into the right center gap with one out, but wouldn't get closer than 60 feet from home plate as she advanced to third on a groundball back to the pitcher during Demaree Rodriguez's at bat, and Taylor Mendez recorded the final on a fly ball to centerfield, ending any hopes for a late rally.
 
Mendez finished with two singles in the contest, while Norman added a double and single. Zink's lone hit came on the solo home run in the fourth inning for the only other extra-base hit for the Marauders.
 
Backes took the loss in the game to put her record at 1-3 while recording two strikeouts in three innings in the circle, while MeLanie Rodriguez ended with one hit given up in four innings of relief work.
 
The Marauders will open up the conference portion of their schedule on Tuesday, March 22, when they pay a visit upstate for a doubleheader against Minot State University starting at 2 PM.
 
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