WEDNESDAY
After playing 22 games on the road, the University of Mary baseball team hosts Concordia-St. Paul in the Marauders home opener on Wednesday, April 3. The Northern Sun doubleheader commences at 10 am with game two following around 12 noon. The Marauders-Golden Bears games will be played at the Sanford Sports Complex, which is adjacent to Legacy High School in Bismarck, ND (3306 E. Calgary Ave., Bismarck, ND, 58503).
 
THE WEEKEND
A long homestand continues this weekend when the Marauders host the Minnesota State University Mavericks in a three-game set on Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7. A doubleheader on Saturday starts at 1:30 pm with game two to follow. A single nine inning game on Sunday starts at 12 noon. All three Northern Sun games are slated to be played at Municipal Ballpark, the Marauders home field.
 
NSIC WEEKEND FORMAT CHANGES
In a scheduling change new to the Northern Sub this season, all weekend NSIC series will be three-game sets. The first day consists of a doubleheader consisting of one 7-inning game and one 9-inning game. The final game of the series will be a 9-inning game. All weekday doubleheaders continue to feature one 7-inning and one 9-inning game. (NOTE: Some teams have also chosen to play a second game on Sunday, but it would be a non-conference game.)
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 8-14 overall and 4-6 in the NSIC. UMary is ninth in the league standings.
 
LAST WEEK
A quiet week for the Marauders after an insanely busy previous couple weeks, UMary played a single doubleheader at Wayne State College on March 27. The Marauders fell 5-2 and 7-6 to the Wildcats.
 
12
The Marauders start a 12-game home stand against the Golden Bears on Wednesday.
 
17-of-20
Making up for playing 12 straight games against NSIC opposition on the road at the start of the conference schedule, UMary plays 17 of its next 20 games at home.
 
ECLIPE
With eight wins overall and four NSIC victories, the Marauders have already eclipsed last year's totals in both categories.
 
VETERANS
The Marauders possess 13 seniors and 22 upperclassmen. Seniors INF Darius Barlas, OF/RP Chris Scott, INF Daulton Sauce and OF/DH Jesus Payan have been regulars in the everyday lineup with junior CF Jaxon Ford. Senior pitchers Ian Fisher, Collin Gudereit, and Charles Bielejeske and Scott have seen regular work for the Marauders.
 
NEWCOMERS
The Marauders have had a couple college transfers play key roles in the pitching staff as juniors Parker McRae and Zac Martin lead UMary in innings pitched. McRae owns a record of 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 24.2 innings. He has struck out 20 while allowing 26 hits and 13 walks… Martin owns a 2.25 ERA and a 1-2 record. The Bismarck, ND, native has 16 strikeouts, nine walks and 23 hits allowed.
 
YOUTH
Several freshman also play key roles for the Marauders. Shortstop Braeton Wixo is second on the team in hitting and has a slash line of .277/.347/.400 with a team-leading five doubles, one home run nine runs scored and five RBIs… Catcher William Kranz is hitting .276/.382/.345 with eight runs scored and six RBIs… RF Jaxon Kostka has received some recent starts and has a home run… On the hill, Jonathan Draheim has four starts and a win, striking out 13 in 19.1 innings with a 5.12 ERA… Quentin Evers owns 17 strikeouts in 12.1 innings. He has a 4.38 ERA, a win and a save.  
 
K-POW
Andrew Brooks has been posting strikeouts at an impressive pace. The sophomore has 24 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. He had a career-best nine in a win over Sioux Falls in which he allowed just two hits and two runs in six innings. His next start was a gem against Augustana, the defending national champions. Brooks held the Vikings to one run, five hits and one walk in seven innings.
 
BOOM
Darius Barlas is having an impressive senior season. Playing second and hitting in the middle of the lineup, Barlas owns six home runs and 18 RBIs in 21 games. He is hitting .319/.364/.597 with two doubles and ten runs scored. He hit two home runs in the Marauders last game against Wayne State College.
 
POWER PLAY
Jesus Payan continues to generate significant offense in the middle of the Marauders lineup. The senior right fielder is second on the team in on base percentage at .370, is 4-for-5 in steals, has three doubles, a team-high two triples, is second on the team in runs (10) and hits (19) and third in RBIs (7).
 
GREAT SCOTT
Starting left fielder Chris Scott has played a couple key roles for the Marauders. In addition to hitting towards the top of the Marauders lineup, the 2018 Gold Glove winner also has served as the UMary closer. In five games he has two saves and hasn't allowed a run. He has thrown 3.2 innings, struck out seven and allowed just one hit. Offensively his .329 on base percentage is fifth on the team 9 on base percentage is fourth on the team and he is fourth in runs scored with nine.
 
STOPPERS
Ian Fisher and Charles Bielejeski have provided key innings out of the bullpen whenever the Marauders have needed to stop an opposing rally. Fisher has a team-high eight appearances and his 12.1 innings are tops among relievers. He has a win and a save while pitching multiple innings three different times, all in Marauders wins… Bielejeski has a team-best 1.69 ERA in seven outings covering 10.2 innings. He has a save and has allowed just five hits on the season.
 
A WEEK AWAY
After hosting Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State this week, the Marauders host Winona State on Wednesday, April 7.
 
#marauders#