SIOUX FALLS, SD - A quartet of University of Mary pitchers held defending NCAA champion Augustana's offense in check while a five-run fifth inning outburst provided all the runs needed, carrying the Marauders to a win in the final game of the weekend series and earning a doubleheader split. After the Vikings captured the opener 11-1, the Marauders rebounded to win game two 8-1.
 
With the win in the non-conference game of the series, the Marauders are 8-12 on the season overall and 4-4 in Northern Sun games. Augustana is 15-6 and 8-0.
 
GAME 1 Augustana 11 UMary 1
Taking advantage of eight Marauders errors, nine of the Vikings 11 runs were unearned as Augustana swept the three Northern Sun games of the weekend. Augie outhit UMary 11-5 in the contest.
 
PIVOT POINT
Leading 1-0, Sam Baier slugged a two-out bases-loaded double to score three unearned runs and give the Vikings an insurmountable four-run advantage.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Darius Barlas was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI
• Connor Doll reached base twice in four plate appearances, hitting a single and walking
• Fr. C William Kranz was hit by a pitch and scored the Marauders lone run
• Zac Martin allowed two earned runs in 5.2 innings, striking out four
• Alec DeMaria didn't allow an earned run in 1.2 innings of relief
• Augie's Evan Furst struck out six and allowed two walks, five hits and one run in 6.2 innings

 
STAT OF THE GAME
Darius Barlas had his fifth multi-hit game of the season. The senior infielder had seven total last year.
 
GAME 2 UMary 8 Augustana 1
Brandon Gill, Quentin Evers, Charles Bielejeski and Chris Scott combined to allow one run and six hits over seven innings in the Marauders 8-1 win over Augustana. Evers picked up his first collegiate win, striking out three hitters in 2.1 innings of relief and allowing the lone run. Bielejeseski pitched 2.2 scoreless innings and Gill and Scott bookended the game with a scoreless inning of work each.
 
PIVOT POINT
Scoring single runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings, the Marauders held a 3-1 lead after the Vikings scored a run in the fourth inning. UMary immediately responded with an explosive fifth inning, scoring five times to take a commanding 8-1 advantage. Scott and Daulton Sauce hit back-to-back run-scoring singles before a wild pitch plated a third run. Jaxon Ford capped the outburst with a two-run double to right field.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Quentin Evers struck out three and didn't allow a walk in 2.1 innings of work to earn his first win. He allowed four hits and one run.
• Charles Bielejeski threw 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out one
• Daulton Sauce was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs
• Jaxon Kostka was 1-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored
• Jaxon Ford was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs and also reached in a hit by pitch
• Chris Scott finished 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, an RBI and a steal and pitched a perfect seventh inning with one strikeout

 
STAT OF THE GAME
The Marauders defense didn't commit an error in the ballgame and the pitchers gave up just two walks.
 
NEXT UP
The Marauders conclude an 11-game road trip to open Northern Sun play when UMary visits Wayne State College for a doubleheader in Wayne, NE, on March 27 beginning at 1:30 pm.
 
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