BISMARCK, ND –
Taylor Lara blasted a two-run triple and closed out the nightcap victory in the circle to headline the University of Mary's sweep over Northern State University. Extending their win streak to four, the Marauders claimed 5-2 and 7-1 home wins over the Wolves.
Scoreless through the first three innings, the Marauders broke open game two with four runs in the fourth inning. With the bases full on three straight singles,
Kylie Alto grounded a ball to short. The throw home for a possible force out eluded the Wolves catcher, allowing two runs to score.
With runners in scoring position, Alto drove a ball opposite field over the right fielder's head. Steaming into third with a two-run triple, Lara's shot doubled the Mary lead to 4-0.
The Wolves threatened to score in the fifth. After a one-out single and a hard line out, Lara relieved starter
Brieann Backes with two outs. On a 2-2 pitch, Lara induced a fly ball to
Madison Jahner in left for the final out of the inning.
Northern State reached Lara for a run in the top of the fifth to close within 4-1. In response Mary struck for three runs to put the game away. Lara and Holtz sandwiched run-scoring singles around an RBI ground out by
Rebekkah Keller.
Lara finished the first game 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs batted in. In the circle she allowed one run and struck out two in 2.1 innings.
Alto and Hubbard both scored twice and had a hit. Holtz and
Colleen Crutchfield had two hits apiece.
Backes earned her seventh win of the season after pitching 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out one.
Jenna Helgeson led Northern State with two hits.
Despite being outhit 7-5, the Marauders took full advantage of five Wolves miscues to take the opener 5-2.
Behind the power of two walks and three Northern State errors, UMary scored twice in the second to take a 2-0 lead.
With Jahner holding the Wolves offense in check, the Marauders sealed the game with three runs in the sixth, highlighted by run-scoring singles by Keller and
Taylor Mendez to build the UMary lead to 5-0.
Earning her third win in a week, Jahner allowed just two runs in seven innings. She struck out two and gave up seven hits and a walk.
Mendez led UMary with two hits and an RBI.
Helgeson drove in two runs with a double in the seventh for Northern State. Kennady Thompson had three hits.
In the midst of winning their fifth game in the last six and sweeping their second straight doubleheader, the Marauders improved to 13-26 overall and 7-7 in the Northern Sun.
Mary next hosts Southwest Minnesota State at 1 pm on Friday, April 14, at Clem Kelly diamonds.
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