ST. CHARLES, MO – Big performances from
Austin Wagner and
Calvin James and a pair of big innings earned the University of Mary baseball team a split on opening day of the 2022 season. The Marauders claimed an 8-2 win at Lindenwood University in game one before the Lions closed the doubleheader with an 11-1 victory.
GAME 1 | Marauders 8 Lions 2
Wagner was a dominant force on the mound in his first start of the season. The big lefthander limited the Lions to two runs on three hits and a walk over six innings. He allowed single runs in his first and last innings of work and picked up six strikeouts on the day.
The Marauders provided all the runs needed in the third inning, scoring three times. Following back-to-back singles by
Kendall Keller and
Michael Polson to lead off the inning, James cracked an opposite field double down the left field line to score both baserunners. Two outs later,
Dakota Finley singled up the middle to score James.
UMary returned in the fourth inning to score five runs. After James walked with the bases loaded to score the first run, a wild pitch scored Keller. Polson scored the third run on a fielder's choice ground out by
Derek Shoen. A double steal by James and Shoen placed both runners in scoring position before a triple by
Ty Jones scored the duo for an 8-1 lead.
Eight Marauders had a hit in the game and five scored runs.
The 2021 NSIC Freshman of the Year, James finished the day 2-for-3 with a double. He scored twice and drove home three.
Batting leadoff in his first game for UMary, Polson was 2-for-4 and scored twice. Keller also had a pair of hits and runs scored in his Marauders debut.
GAME 2 | Lions 11 Marauders 1
Coming off an NCAA tournament appearance last spring, the Lions used a 7-run fourth inning to gain their first win of the season.
Scoreless through three innings, the Lions combined four hits with three Marauders errors, three walks and a passed ball to score their seven runs. Lindenwood tagged on two more runs in the 5
th inning and single runs in the 6
th and 7
th to end the game early.
The Marauders scored their lone run in the 7
th inning on a James sacrifice fly to left that scored
Krece Papierski.
In his first start at UMary,
Joseph Sinclair struck out six in 3.1 innings of work.
Kody Jones punched out four Lions in 3.0 innings.
The Marauders (1-1 overall) and the Lions (1-4) wrap up their 4-game series with a doubleheader on Monday, February 21. First pitch is slated for 11 am.
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