SAINT PETER, MN – University of Mary senior right-hander
Jake Johnson spun a two-hitter against Minnesota State University but was unable to deliver the Marauders their first Northern Sun win of the season. Scoring twice on wild pitches, the Mavericks edged the Marauders 2-0 in a game that started at 9 am.
The second game of the neutral site doubleheader was suspended after three innings and will pick up from that point at 9 am on Friday, March 30, prior to the scheduled doubleheader between the Marauders and the Mavericks. Minnesota State holds a 3-1 lead entering the fourth inning in game two of the four-game series.
Johnson allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out two in a seven-inning complete game against the Mavericks. It was arguably the Cambridge, MN, native's best outing since twirling a 2-hitter against West Virginia Wesleyan on March 3, 2016, a 2-1 9-inning complete game loss.
Neither hit allowed by Johnson left the infield grass as both were bunts.
PIVOT POINT
The Mavericks Tyler Berg led off the third inning with a bunt single, the first hit of the game for either team. After a passed ball sent him to second before a sacrifice bunt moved him to third, Berg scored on a two-out wild pitch for the only run MSU pitcher Quinn Ahern and the Mavericks would need.
For the first time since a runner reached second base in the first inning, UMary placed two runners in scoring position in the sixth inning. Behind a pair of Mavericks errors, the Marauders had runners on second and third with one out but failed to take advantage. Ahern picked off the runner at third for the second out and registered a strikeout for the third out.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Marauders outhit the Mavericks 3-2 but twice bounced into double plays.
Jaxon Ford,
Chris Scott and
Will Pettener had the three Marauders hits.
UMary outhit MSU 3-2.
Johnson's pitching line was 7.0 2 2 1 2 2.
Ahern allowed no runs on three hits and no walks, struck out eight and hit two batters in a 7-inning complete game.
MSU committed three errors to one for UMary.
Both Mavericks runs scored on wild pitches. The first run was unearned as it was aided by a passed ball.
STAT OF THE GAME
Including the 5-2 loss at Minnesota Duluth in game two of Wednesday's doubleheader, Marauders pitchers have allowed a combined five total hits in their last two outings (3 at UND, 2 vs. MSU).
ON DECK
The Marauders and Mavericks begin play at 9 am on Friday, March 30, in the fourth inning of Thursday's suspended game with Minnesota State leading 3-1. In a series forced from Bismarck, ND, due to unplayable field conditions, the NSIC series is being played in St. Peter, MN, at the Gustavus Adolphus field.
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