SIOUX FALLS, SD – A record performance at the plate by Derek Shoen nearly lifted the University of Mary baseball team to a road win at Augustana University. Shoen cracked three home runs and drove in seven runs in the second game of a doubleheader against the Vikings but a late run by Augie lifted the home team to an 8-7 win. Augustana won the opener 4-2.
 
The home run and RBI totals are new NCAA era marks for the Marauders. The old totals of two home runs and six RBIs had been reached a handful of times since 2007, most recently by Ben Prediger earlier this season in a 23-17 UMary win at UC Colorado Springs on February 28, 2022.
 
All nine Marauders runs on the day scored via home run. Calvin James hit a 2-run homer in the opener and Shoen hit a pair of 2-run shots and a 3-run blast in the second game. Additionally eight of the Vikings 12 home runs came via five long balls hit by Augie in the two games.
 
GAME 1 | Augustana 4 University of Mary 2
Home runs dominated the opener as all six runs in the game came off the long ball. The Marauders opened the scoring in the first inning. Kyle Jameson singled to center with out and Calvin James followed with a massive drive over the right center field fence for his team-leading fifth home run of the season and a 2-0 UMary lead.
 
Joseph Sinclair held the Vikings off the scoreboard until the 4^th inning when Augustana connected for a trio of home runs to claim a 4-2 advantage.
 
The Augie outburst provided more than enough runs for Caleb Saari to take home the win. Saari pitched a seven-inning complete game for the Vikings and didn't allow a hit after the James home run. He allowed two hits, a walk and struck out 10.
 
TURNING POINT
The Marauders lead evaporated over the course of three swings. After a 1-out single by Carter Howell, Will Olson tied the game on a 2-run homer to right center. The next two Vikings hitters – Drey Dirksen and Tony Lanier - followed with solo shots to give Augie a 4-2 lead.  
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Cal James | 1x2, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Kyle Jameson | 1x2, 1 R, 1 HBP
Mark Schommer | 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R,  1 BB, 2 K
AU Will Olson | 2x3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
AU Caleb Saari | 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
 
STAT OF THE GAME
The Marauders last baserunner came in the third inning when James was intentionally walked with two outs and a runner on second base. Saari then retired the next 13 hitters in order.
 
GAME 2 | Vikings 8 Marauders 7
UMary rallied from a 5-run deficit to take a momentary lead behind an impressive power performance by Derek Shoen. The All-Northern Sun first baseman bashed three home runs and drove in seven runners to set NCAA era records for the Marauders in both categories.
 
Following a Calvin James single to lead off the fourth inning, Shoen blasted the ball over the left field wall to close the Marauders deficit to 5-2. After the Vikings added a run in the fifth, Shoen followed another James single with another shot to right to climb within 6-4. Shoen continued his rampage in the seventh with a 3-run blast to over the center field fence with two outs to score Michael Polson and James, pushing UMary in front 7-6.
 
TURNING POINT
Taking advantage of a Marauders miscue, the Vikings tied the game 7-7 in the 7^th inning. Vikings leadoff hitter Hines reached on a walk and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches before scoring the winning run on a single through the right side of the infield by Baggs.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Derek Shoen | 3x3, 3 R, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 1 BB
• Cal James | 2x3, 3 R, 1 BB
• Kody Jones | 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K
• AU Carter Howell | 2x4, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBIs
• AU Max Mosser, 1x2, 3 R, 2 BB

 
STAT OF THE GAME
11 of the 15 runs in the game scored on home runs… Of the Marauders six NSIC losses, five are by one run and the other is by two runs.
 
NEXT UP
After playing their first 22 games of the season on the road, the University of Mary opens its home schedule against Winona State University with a three-game set on Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3, at Municipal Ballpark. The Marauders and the Warriors open with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1:30 pm before playing a single 9-inning game at 12 noon on Sunday.     
 
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