SIOUX FALLS, SD – Freshman
Madison Jahner spun a complete game to gain her first collegiate win and senior
Taylor Mendez provided all the support she needed with a 2-run first inning blast to lead the University of Mary softball team to a road split at Augustana. The Marauders grabbed a 6-1 win in the opener before the Vikings bounced back with a 3-1 win in game two.
Facing one of the top offensive teams in the Northern Sun, Jahner didn't allow an earned run in her seven-inning complete game victory in the day's opener. She gave up six hits and two walks while striking out one. Relying equally on her infield and outfield, Jahner recorded nine fly ball outs and generated eight outs on the ground.
Mendez cracked a 2-run home run in the first inning, her seventh of the season. The senior all-conference performer finished the day 2-for-4.
Amber Gamboa had two doubles among her three hits and drove in a run.
Lex Hubbard had two hits, including a 2-run double to seal the game in a 3-run sixth inning for the Marauders.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the first, Mary tacked on a run in the third on a Gamboa double that scored Keller.
In the bottom of the third, Augie parlayed its first hit of the game and a Marauders error into the Vikings lone run of the game.
Despite allowing two hits in the fourth, Jahner emerged unscathed as Mary turned its second double play of the day.
Looking to seal the deal with a
Kylie Alto run-scoring single and Hubbard's two-run double in the sixth to increase the Marauders advantage to 6-1, Jahner gave up two more hits in the bottom of the sixth. Once again, a double play – this time a line out to Jahner with a throw to Mendez to double the runner off first – ended another Augie rally attempt. Jahner finished off the victory with three straight ground ball outs in the Vikings seventh inning.
Fresh off a strong performance in a win over Bemidji State on Wednesday, the Marauders turned the ball over to
Brieann Backes in the second game. The sophomore kept the Vikings off the board the first two innings, surviving two hits and an error in the second. She couldn't continue the run in the third, allowing three runs to score in an inning that featured a triple and a home run for Augie.
Continuing her strong hitting that began during a midweek split with the Beavers, Gamboa hit a one-out solo home run to right center in the fourth inning to pull Mary within 3-1.
Mary continued to challenge the last two innings but came up just short. The sixth inning ended with Jahner out at home on a throw by Augie left fielder Abby Chandler. In the seventh, with two runners in scoring position and one out, Vikings pitcher Lexy Pederson left both Marauders stranded on a pop out and a strike out to end the game a 3-1 decision.
Taylor Lara finished the day pitching for the Marauders, tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Shannon Petersen finished 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for Augie. Pederson allowed just three hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
The Marauders (9-26 overall, 3-7 NSIC) conclude their weekend with a double header at Wayne State on April 9.
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