AUBURNDALE, FL – Twice within striking distance of their first win of the season, the University of Mary baseball team faltered in a pair of heart wrenching losses to Malone University. The Pioneers edged the Marauders 5-2 and 5-4 in a non-conference twin bill.
A slow start cost the Marauders dearly in the opener. UMary starting pitcher
Jake Johnson hit the Malone leadoff hitter on the first pitch of the game and walked the next two batters. After striking out the Pioneers cleanup hitter Matt Noel, Malone called for a safety squeeze. Damian Maglione dropped a solid bunt down the first base side and was thrown out at first by Johnson. Aggressive baserunning plated two runs on the 30 foot bunt as Nate Cobb scored easily from third and Zach Mottice, who got a tremendous jump off second and never slowed rounding third, also scored. Andy Fletcher followed with a double down the line to score another run to build a 3-0 advantage for Malone.
Johnson soon settled down and allowed just one baserunner the next two innings.
UMary started to turn the corner in the fourth inning.
Cody Ghents swung at strike three but reached first on a wild pitch when the ball bounced off the Malone catcher.
Nick McCann posted a 1-out single to place runners on the corner before
Chris Scott fired a run-scoring single to center. After a fielder's choice again placed Marauders runners on the corners,
Seth Siverson grounded a ball through the left side to score McCann. UMary looked to knot the score when
Travis Stevens pulled what appeared to be a single through the right side but the ball struck Siverson, who was declared out on the play, ending the inning with UMary trailing 3-2.
Malone tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth to create separation and the Marauders managed just one baserunner the last three innings against the Pioneers bullpen.
UMary outhit Malone 6-5 but the Pioneers also received four walks and had a batter hit by pitch. Malone also walked four UMary hitters. The Marauders stranded eight runners to five for the Pioneers.
Johnson pitched a complete game for the Marauders, allowing five hits, four walks and four earned runs while striking out six.
Stevens had two hits for UMary. Fletcher posted two hits for Malone. Zach Mottice scored twice.
Making his first career start after 63 relief appearances, senior
Kenny Slominski provided a strong start on the mound in game two for the Marauders. He pitched 5.1 innings and kept UMary within striking distance of Malone.
The Pioneers scored an unearned run in the top of the first and added two runs in the fourth with single tallies in the fifth and sixth innings before the Marauders made their move.
Connor Doll singled and Siverson doubled to open the bottom of six. A
Daulton Sauce sacrifice fly scored Doll for the Marauders first run. A single by
Jesus Payan placed runners on the corners before a pinch-hit run-scoring single by Ghents scored Siverson. Down to their last out in the inning,
Darius Barlas crushed a two-run double to left center to pull the Marauders within 5-4 before a strikeout ended UMary's hopes. Unable to continue their momentum, the Marauders went down in order in the seventh.
Payan had two of the Marauders six hits and scored a run. Barlas doubled with two RBIs.
Slominski allowed seven hits, four earned runs and one walk while striking out three.
Will Karrer,
Noah Lanter and
Ian Fisher combined for 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Fletcher led Malone with two hits and three RBIs. Noel scored twice.
The Marauders next face Aquinas at 9:30 am EST / 8:30 am CST on Tuesday, March 6.
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