BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary softball team took on Southwest Minnesota State in two highly competitive games. Both games were decided by the very last play of the outing. The first game was claimed by a walk off single by Rebekkah Keller that scored Haley Berube to give the Marauders a 2-1 victory in extra innings. In game two UMary had the tying runs on base and the winning run at the plate but good defense by SMSU got themselves out of the jam and gave the Mustangs a 3-1 win.
 
With today's split the Marauders record goes to 18-24 overall and 9-13 in NSIC play.
 
GAME 1 University of Mary 2 Southwest Minnesota State 1
The highly competitive game needed extra innings to decide the winner. The eighth inning was a thriller. First Alvarado forced the Mustangs to go three up, three down which set the Marauders up for a chance for a walk off win. Haley Berube got things rolling from the plate in the eighth with a double to put herself in scoring position. Keller came to the plate and knocked the ball into left center field to score Berube and give the Marauders the victory. Keller knocked in both of the Marauders runs on the game. Kaitlyn Alvarado was a force on the mound, striking out a season high of five and earning the win.
 
PIVOT POINT
Rebekkah Keller sent a ball to left center field to score Haley Berube in the walk off win. The walk off win in extra innings broke the previous tie at one run each.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Rebekkah Keller went 2-4 with two RBIs and a triple
 
Haley Berube went 1-3 and a run
 
Paige Matsuki went 1-3 and stole a base
 
Rachael Laetsch went 1-2 and drew a walk
 
Mariah Sanchez went 1-3
 
Kaitlyn Alvarado earned the win and struck out five
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Rebekkah Keller had a ball game. The junior knocked in the first run of the game when she tripled and sent Kylie Alto across the plate. She then hit in the game winning run with her single in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring Haley Berube.
 
GAME 2 UMary 1 SMSU 3
Emma Noble, Kylie Alto, and Mariah Sanchez all recorded a pair of hits on the game as the Marauders out hit the Mustangs eight to seven. Despite out hitting SMSU, the Mustangs held the advantage taking home a 3-1 victory. The Marauders had a chance at another walk off win. UMary recorded three hits and drew a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the tying and winning runs on base. SMSU was able to get out of the jam and claim the victory. Kaitlyn Alvarado sent a ball out of the park to record the Marauders lone run of the game in the sixth inning.
 
PIVOT POINT
A two run second inning by SMSU proved to be the difference in the ball game. The two teams mirrored each other in runs scored in every other inning.  
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Emma Noble went 2-3 with a double
 
Kylie Alto went 2-3
 
Mariah Sanchez went 2-3
 
Kaitlyn Alvarado went 1-3 with a homerun
 
Rebekkah Keller went 1-4 with a stolen base
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Kaitlyn Alvarado has been a force on the plate. She has recorded all three of her homeruns this season in the last six days! Emma Noble posted her team leading 13th double of the season in the game.
 
ON DECK
The Marauders continue their homestand, tomorrow, April 20 against Sioux Falls. Game times will be 11 AM and 1 PM. UMary will honor their three seniors during this ball game.
 
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