ST. CLOUD, MN – A memorable University of Mary baseball season came to a sudden close in the opening round of the Northern Sun tournament. Despite a late rally, the Marauders couldn't overcome an early deficit in an 8-5 loss at St. Cloud State University. The Huskies won the best-of-3 series in two games after winning the opener 6-4 the night before.
The Marauders finish the season 21-20 and set several marks during the year. UMary posted its first winning record during the program's NCAA era, which began in spring 2007 and set NCAA-era marks for total wins (21) and Northern Sun wins (18). The Marauders also set a new school record for home runs with 50.
In a game delayed over 90 minutes due to rain and wet field conditions, the Huskies opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning. After a double to open the game and an infield single placed runners on first and second base, Matt Quade lofted a fly ball to left field with two outs.
Dakota Finley slipped on the wet grass and lost his chance to catch a ball that fell safely to the ground. Behind aggressive baserunning, both Huskies scored to give SCSU a 2-0 lead.
Singles by
Spencer Gillund and
Tyrus Barclay in the third sandwiched around a
James Martin walk loaded the bases with one out but Huskies pitcher Trevor Koenig worked out of the jam without allowing a run.
The Huskies doubled their lead in the bottom of the third on a 2-run single by Jake Shusterich. UMary prevented any more damage when Shusterich was thrown out at the for the final out of the inning. A double down the left field line was corralled quickly and fired towards the infield by Finley.
Calvin James took the relay throw and fired a perfect strike to Barclay at the plate for the tag on Shusterich.
SCSU returned the favor in the fourth.
Ty Jones led off with a double and attempted to score the Marauders first run of the game on a single by Finley but the UMary centerfielder was tagged out at the plate.
UMary finally scored in the 5
th. Barclay singled to right center with two outs and moved to second on a passed ball before
Derek Shoen walked. James followed with a single to plate Barclay and pull UMary within 4-1.
A trio of runs in the 6
th seemed to seal the win for the Huskies as SCSU scored on a wild pitch, a base hit and an error. A Shusterich home run in the 7
th increased the Huskies lead to 8-1.
As they have done all season, the Marauders continued to battle. Facing a new pitcher after Koenig was removed, infield singles by Shoen and James plus a Huskies error moved both runners into scoring position. Jones then crushed a 3-run home run deep over the left field fence. Two pitches later
Quentin Evers was hit by a pitch before Finley singled up the middle. One out later Martin singled up the middle to score pinch runner
Braxton Inniss with the fourth run of the inning.
Alex Kowski was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Marauders hopes for an even bigger inning were thwarted when Barclay bounced into a slick third-to-first double play started by Huskies third baseman Tate Wallat to end the inning and dash UMary's hopes.
Four Marauders had two hits each. Jones was 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Barclay finished 2-for-5 with a run scored. James went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Finley finished 2-for-4. Martin was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Koenig allowed one run in 7.0 innings and struck out 10. Shusterich was 3-for-4 with a home run two runs scored and three RBIs.
The Huskies narrowly out-hit the Marauders 12-11. UMary committed two errors to one for SCSU and stranded eight runners on base to five for the home team.
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