FARGO, N.D. – Coming off his two best performances of the season, University of Mary senior Zach Steckler upped his game even further with a sparkling performance at NCAA Division I North Dakota State University.  
 
Pitching in the back yard of his home town, the West Fargo, N.D., native threw the best game of his Marauders career, holding the Bison scoreless in seven innings of work.
 
Despite his best efforts, Steckler's performance proved not enough as the visiting Marauders fell 1-0 to the Bison on a walk-off wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Steckler, who pitched a complete game last week and earned a save in the Marauders (5-21 overall) lone win of the weekend over Minnesota State University, allowed just three hits and two walks. The right-hander also hit two batters and stuck out one.
 
Both teams had early opportunities to score. After the Bison (16-13) moved a runner into scoring position in the first, the Marauders had chances in the second, third and fourth innings. Sean Hennen walked to lead off the second inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out, only to be stranded. In the third, Tom Imholte doubled with two outs before Hennen singled and stole second with one out in the fourth. Neither advanced beyond the keystone bag.
 
In the sixth, Connor Doll doubled down the left field line, the last U-Mary player to reach scoring position until the ninth inning.
 
Down to their last at bats, Hennen walked with one out in the ninth and Clay Bassingthwaite reached on a bunt single. U-Mary's hopes of a win quickly faded when Brian VanderWoude closed out the inning with back to back strikeouts.
 
Despite placing runners on base each of the first five innings, the Bison never moved a runner beyond second.
 
After Steckler sat the Bison down in order in the sixth, he escaped the seventh using a double play when Andy Wicklund lined into a twin killing. With Steckler done for the day, Travis Holte came on in relief and pitched a perfect eighth inning.
 
The game ended quickly in the ninth. Bison left fielder Ben Petersen greeted sophomore Ryo Takanaka, U-Mary's closer, with a double to right center. Following a passed ball to make Petersen the first runner of the game to reach third, a wild pitch from Takenaka scored Peterson with the game's lone run.
 
Hennen led the Marauders offense with one hit. He also walked twice. Imholte was 1-for-3 with a walk.
 
Drew Fearing was 2-for-3 with a walk.
 
Four Bison pitchers combined to allow just four hits, walk four and fan 14. VanderWoude improved to 6-1 on the season after striking our three in two innings of work to finish the game.
 
After a brief step outside of league play to face the Bison, the Marauders return to NSIC competition on Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17, against Winona State University. Doubleheaders both days begin at noon.
 
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