OSCEOLA, FL –
Ian Fisher pitched four shutout innings of relief and
Chris Scott and
Daulton Sauce both had a pair of hits and runs scored to push the University of Mary to a doubleheader split with Wheeling Jesuit University. After opening their first day in Florida with a 4-0 loss to the Cardinals, the Marauders rebounded for a 7-2 win in the nightcap.
GAME 1 Wheeling Jesuit 4 UMary 0
Shortstop
Braeton Wixo had a pair of hits and fellow freshman
Daniel Turner threw two scoreless innings in his collegiate debut to headline the Marauders efforts in the first of seven games during UMary's spring trip to Florida.
UMary looked to score first, posting two hits in the top of the first inning but couldn't find a way to cross the plate. Wheeling Jesuit took advantage, scoring twice in the first inning on a Zach Blumling two-out single. The Cardinals added single runs in each of the next two innings to double their lead 4-0.
The Marauders best scoring opportunity came in the sixth. Singles by
Quentin Evers and
Braeton Wixo and an error by the Cardinals loaded the bases but Wheeling Jesuit escaped without any runs scoring.
Wixo finished the day 2-for-3. Evers,
Jesus Payan and Sauce had the Marauders other three hits.
Andrew Brooks pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out three hitters. Turner struck out one batter and allowed one hit in two innings.
Zach Rohaley struck out eight in pitching a 7-inning complete game shutout for the Cardinals. He allowed five hits and didn't walk a batter.
GAME 2 UMary 7 Wheeling Jesuit 2
The Marauders (2-4 overall) found their offensive footing in the second game, pounding out 11 hits and stealing six bases in a 7-2 win over the Cardinals (1-6). UMary scored multiple runs in three different innings.
UMary opened the scoring in the second inning on a double steal. With two outs, Wixo doubled and took third on a wild pitch. After
Jaxon Ford walked, he stole second and Wixo took home for a 1-0 lead.
Tyler Thomas followed with a single to score Ford for a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Scott and Sauce singled before steals placed both runners in scoring position.
Darius Barlas came through with a one-out single to score both runners and doubled the Marauders advantage to 4-0.
The Cardinals started to push back with a 2-run bases loaded double by Lucas Rawlins. With no outs and runners on second and third and the Marauders lead cut to 4-2, Fisher was summoned from the bullpen. Immediately the senior took command, inducing a couple fly ball outs sandwiched around a runner being caught off third base.
With Fisher in control, the Marauders salted away the game in the fifth by plating three more runs. Payan blasted a 2-run triple to score Scott and Sauce before the UMary right fielder scored on a
Travis Stevens groundout.
Fisher earned his first win of the season after pitching four scoreless innings. He allowed one baserunner, a one-out single in the sixth. The righthander retired 11 of the 12 hitters he faced with the other out coming on the basepaths. In seven innings of relief this season, Fisher has allowed just one run and owns a win and a save.
Scott was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Sauce was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one steal. Payan drove in two runs and had a hit and a run scored. Barlas drove in two runs on one hit. Ford was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two steals.
Dom Davis had two of the Cardinals four hits and scored once.
The Marauders next face Walsh in a single game in Florida on March 6. First pitch is 11:30 am EST / 10:30 am CST.
#marauders#
