BISMARCK, ND – A pitched ball off the batter's shoulder usually generates more ill will than pleasant conversation. But the pitch that struck Connor Doll with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth touched off a wild celebration as the University of Mary both scored the winning run and completed a doubleheader sweep over visiting Winona State University at the same instant. The Marauders won the opener 3-1 behind a complete game pitching effort by Jonathan Draheim before earning a 3-2 walkoff win in game two of the Northern Sun twin bill.
 
This was the Marauders (11-18 overall, 7-10 NSIC) first doubleheader sweep of the Warriors (15-14, 8-9) since the two teams began playing regularly in 2008.
 
GAME 1 UMary 3 Winona State 1
A second straight brilliant midweek performance by Jonathan Draheim keyed the Marauders a victory in game one. A week prior the freshman righthander threw a 7-inning complete game 6-1 victory over Concordia-St. Paul when he allowed six hits and a walk. His performance against the Warriors was even more dominant. Throwing all seven innings for the second straight game, Draheim gave up only three hits and one walk while striking out three. The only run scored was unearned.
 
PIVOT POINT
Taking advantage of two errors, a hit and a walk, Winona State threatened to take control of the game in the first inning. Instead Draheim and the Marauders defense righted the ship and held the Warriors to a single unearned run. After the leadoff hitter reached on an error and the second batter singled to center, a ground out in the middle of the infield placed runners on the corners. A second Marauders error allowed a run to score and moved both Warriors baserunners into scoring position. The next at bat may have decided the game. Andrew Pliner lashed a line shot to left field but hard-charging Chris Scott made a dive stab and caught the ball just off the grass. The Gold Glove-winning senior quickly scrambled to his feet and fired to second, doubling off the baserunner and ending the inning.
 
Draheim then dominated the rest of the game, pitching five straight perfect innings. He allowed a pair of singles in the seventh but worked out of the jam to secure the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Darius Barlas drove in all three Marauders runs. He hit a sacrifice fly to score Jaxon Ford in the first inning and doubled home Ford and Doll in the third. Barlas finished 1-for-2 with a double and three RBIs.
• Ford was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a steal
• Doll went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases
• Draheim improved to 3-2 on the season, pitching a 7-inning complete game, allowing no earned runs, three hits and one walk while striking out three.

 
STAT OF THE GAME
The Marauders top four hitters posted all six UMary hits in the game, going a combined 6-for-11 with a double, three runs, scored, three RBIs and three steals.
 
GAME 2 UMary 3 Winona State 2
A nail-biter to the end, the Marauders claimed a 3-2 walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth when Connor Doll was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out, forcing home Nick McCann with the winning run.
 
A trio of Marauders pitchers struck out ten batters and didn't allow an earned while limiting the Warriors to just five hits and three walks over nine innings. Senior righthander Charles Bielejeski pitched the final two innings, giving up one hit, a walk and no runs while striking out three to earn his first collegiate win.
 
PIVOT POINT
With the game tied 2-2, Bielejeski came on in relief to pitch the top of the eighth inning. After allowing a leadoff single and seeing the runner advance to third with two outs, Bielejeski struck out the final batter of the inning to end the Warriors threat. In the ninth, Bielejeski saw the leadoff batter reach based when he swung at strike three but advanced to first on a wild pitch before taking second on a sacrifice bunt. A walk and a fielder's choice then pushed both runners into scoring position with two outs. Once again up to the task, Bielejeski recorded the final out on a strikeout to keep the tie intact.
 
The Marauders soon took advantage. After the Marauders leadoff hitter in the bottom of the ninth struck out, McCann reached on a walk. Pinch hitter Travis Stevens also walked before Ford was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The first pitch to Doll struck him on the shoulder, forcing home McCann with the winning run and ignited an ebullient dugout-clearing celebration.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jesus Payan was the only player in the game with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs
• Darius Barlas scored twice in the game
• Nick McCann had a single, a walk and a run scored
• Ford reached base twice; a walk and a hit by pitch
• Freshman Daniel Turner started the game for the Marauders and went five innings, allowing two unearned runs, three hits and one walk while striking out four
• Freshman Quentin Evers allowed one hit, one walk and no runs while striking out three over two innings
• Bielejeski earned his first collegiate win with two innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and a walk and struck out three.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Over two games, three Marauders freshman pitchers (Draheim. Turner and Evers) didn't allow an earned run in a combined 14 innings. The trio allowed just seven hits, three walks and struck out 10… all three runs scored in the two games by the Warriors were unearned.
 
NEXT UP
The Marauders 12-game home stand continues when UMary hosts the University of Minnesota Crookston in a trip of Northern Sun games on Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14, at Bismarck's Municipal Ballpark. The doubleheader between the Marauders and Golden Eagles on Saturday begins at 1:30 pm. Sunday's single nine-inning ballgame begins at 12 noon.
 
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