MARSHALL, MN – On the precipice of possibly posting two victories, the University of Mary baseball team instead was stunned as host Southwest Minnesota State University posted a pair of walk-off wins to sweep the Northern Sun doubleheader. The Mustangs edged the Marauders 3-2 in the opener and 15-14 in game two.
With
Jake Johnson reverting to form, the Marauders and Mustangs were locked in a tight battle throughout game one. Scoring once in each the third and the sixth innings on run-scoring singles by
Travis Stevens and
Drew Feuerbach, UMary held a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth.
The Mustangs tied the game with a two-out single in the sixth. The Marauders tried to take the lead in the seventh but stranded two runners in scoring position.
Wasting no time to finish their comeback, the first two Mustangs hitters in the seventh reached on a hit and a hit by pitch. With runners on the corners and no outs, Tanner Strommen singled to center for the game-winning hit.
Johnson pitched six innings for the Marauders, striking out seven in six innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks.
A slugfest ensued in the final game of the weekend as the two teams combined for 39 hits and 29 runs.
Trailing 9-3 after six innings, the Marauders comeback started with three runs in the seventh, keyed by an RBI double from
Seth Meide and a
Chris Scott run-scoring single to pull within 9-6.
Facing a 10-6 deficit after seven, UMary tallied twice in the eighth when
Jaxon Ford hit a sacrifice fly and
Lane Huck was hit by a pitch with the bases full. Once again the Mustangs retaliated, this time scoring four runs to build a 14-8 lead.
Down six entering the ninth, the Marauders came right after the Mustangs as UMary's first three hitters reached base.
Andrew Beyer knocked in the first two runs when he pulled a single to right. After Beyer stole second to put two Marauders in scoring position, Meide followed with a two-run single to left. Stevens then walked to place the tying run on base. After a flyout for the second out, a balk moved Meide and Stevens into scoring position. Scot then completed the rally, driving in both runners with a single to center to knot the game 14-14.
With one more chance for a walk-off win, the Mustangs took advantage. A walk to Liam Lopez, a sacrifice bunt and an infield single by Jayden Fleck placed runners on the corner. Putting the runners in motion, Fleck stole second. When an errant throw from catcher short-hopped Meide, the Marauders second baseman, and rolled away, Lopez raced home from third with the winning run.
Meide had three hits, scored three times and drove in three runs for the Marauders. Scott had two hits and three RBIs. Stevens scored three times. Ford and
Seth Siverson both had two hits and scored twice. Feuerbach had two RBIs and two runs scored. Beyer added two hits, scored once and drove in two runs.
Shane Sellner posted five hits and three RBIs for the Mustangs. Derek Smith and Brady Lanoue each had four hits.
The Marauders (9-32, 5-27 NSIC) close out their home schedule on Wednesday, April 26, when Bemidji State University visits. Game time is 1:30 pm.
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