James Martin and Michael Polson celebrate at home plate
Brian Larson

Baseball Brian Larson, UMary Sports Information Director

Marauders baseball homestand continues with weekend visit from Peacocks

THIS WEEK
The University of Mary baseball team continues a 12-game home stand this weekend when the Marauders host Upper Iowa University in Northern Sun action on Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10. The Marauders and the Peacocks take to the field for a doubleheader on Saturday at 1:30 pm with a 7-inning contest followed by a 9-inning game. On Sunday UMary and UIU will play a single 9-inning game at 12 noon. All three games are slated to be played at Municipal Ballpark in Bismarck, ND, which is the Marauders home field.
 
NEXT WEEK
The Marauders are scheduled to host the University of Sioux Falls in an NSIC doubleheader on Tuesday, April 12, and the University of Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday, April 15-16. With the potential for interesting weather across the Great Plains as we approach Easter weekend, schedule changes will be posted on www.GoUMary.com and Twitter and Facebook at @umarysports.
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 10-16 overall this season and 2-9 in Northern Sun play… Upper Iowa is Winona State is 6-18 overall and 4-9 in the NSIC.
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders opened their home schedule against Winona State on Saturday, April 2, and dropped a pair of decisions to the Warriors (3-1, 7-4)… On Tuesday UMary was edged 9-6 by Concordia-St. Paul before defeating the Golden Bears 11-6 in the night cap to snap a 7-game losing skein.
 
FLEXIBILITY
Spring weather had an impact on the opening of the NSIC season for UMary. The Marauders series at Wayne State was moved back a day, the series against Minnesota State had a site change to Sioux City, IA, and the Augustana twin bill was moved forward a day. After playing a pair at home against Winona State on Saturday, Sunday's game was wiped out by snowfall. The home series slated against Concordia-St. Paul was then moved up a day from Wednesday to Tuesday.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
The Marauders played their first 22 games of the season away from home. UMary is now in the midst of a 12-game home stand.
 
HEARTBREAKERS
The Marauders had several heartbreaking losses to open Northern Sun play. Five of the six losses came by a single run with two others by two and two by three. Four of the losses came in the opponent's final at bat, including three of the walk-off variety.
 
SHOEN SHOTS
Derek Shoen has produced a prodigious power display over the last week. In the span of five games the All-NSIC first baseman has blasted seven home runs with a pair of multi home runs games. Here's a quick look at his last five games:
  • 3/29 at Augie | 3x3, 3 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB (UMary single game NCAA record for home runs and RBIs)
  • 4/1 v. Winona State | 1x3 | 1 HBP
  • 4/1 vs. Winona State | 3x4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 1 BB
  • 4/5 vs. Concordia-St. Paul | 1x4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBIs
  • 4/5 vs. Concordia-St. Paul | 2x3, 3 R, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB
Total | 10x17, 8 R, 7 HR, 16 RBIs, 4 BB, 1 HBP | .588/.681/1.824 | 2.412 OPS
For the season Shoen is hitting .333/.479/.733 (30-of-90) with a 1.212 OPS. He has scored 24 runs, has six doubles, 10 home runs and 37 RBIs.
 
SHOEN SHOTS PART 2
Following his recent power surge, Derek Shoen has 10 home runs this season. In 2021 Shoen hit 11 home runs to tie the Marauders NCAA era record. The all-time UMary mark is 12 by Steve Laasko in 1998. The junior from Truman, MN, now owns 21 career home runs to rank 5th all-time at UMary. Tyler Liffrig is the Marauders career home run leader with 39, followed by Jeff Wedul (27), Mike Feldman (24) and Andy Leer (21).
 
SHOEN HAS RECORD PERFORMANCE AT AUGUSTANA
Derek Shoen had a historic performance for the Marauders against the Vikings on Tuesday. The All-Northern Sun first baseman hit three home runs and drove in seven runs to set UMary NCAA era records in both categories. He finished the 3-for-3 with three home runs, three runs scored, seven RBIs and a walk in UMary's 8-7 loss… His 12 total bases ties Cal James' NCAA mark set last season at Southwest Minnesota State o May 1, 2021… The Marauders previous NCAA era high was two home runs (17 times, including three times each by Calvin James and Tyler Liffrig) and six RBIs (two times | James and Ben Prediger)… Ben Prediger was the last person to match the old highs when he hit two home runs and drove in six runs in a 23-17 win at UC Colorado Springs earlier this season on February 28, 2022.  
 
HEAT
The Marauders pitchers strike out 9.3 hitters/nine innings to rank 68th in NCAA D2 out of 251 teams.
 
LIMITING FACTORS
UMary pitchers give up just 8.78 hits/nine innings, ranking 6th in the NSIC and 49th in NCAA D2.
 
BOOM
The Marauders average 1.04 home runs per game to rank 5th in the NSIC and 69th in NCAA D2.
 
RBI GUY
All-NSIC 3B and 2021 Freshman of the Year Calvin James is 35th in NCAA D2 in runs batted in per game at 1.35. The sophomore from Buffalo, MN, has 35 RBIs in 26 games. He is also 18th in doubles per game (.46) and 39th in runs scored/game (1.31). James is 37-of-94, hitting .394/.512/.702 for a 1.214 OPS with 34 runs scored, 12 doubles, a triple and five home runs. 
 
ZEROS
Kody Jones has been lights out his last two outings. He limited Augustana to a run on 3 hits and a walk while striking out five in 4.0 innings of relief. He was even better Saturday against Winona State, throwing five scoreless innings, striking out 7 while allowing three hits and a walk in a start. For the week, he allowed one run in 9.0 innings with 12 strikeouts, limiting hitters to six hits and one walk. In his last 12.2 innings Jones has allowed 2 earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out 14.
 
DOMINATION
Austin Wagner has dominated the opposition over the course of his first five starts this season. The junior lefthander is 2-2 with 43 strikeouts and seven walks in 43 innings. He has allowed just 25 hits and 13 runs for a 3.55 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. In his second start he struck out 11 and allowed just two hits, no walks and zero earned runs over five innings in a 15-5 UMary win at UCCS… Wagner is 52nd in strikeouts-to-walks ratio (5.67),33rd in WHIP (0.93) and 58th in strikeouts per nine innings (11.73).
 
FAST START
In his first season at UMary, sophomore catcher Ben Prediger is slashing .349/.481/.535 with an OPS of 1.016. In 18 games he is 15-of-43 with two doubles, two home runs, 11 runs scored and 10 RBIs… He came off the bench to tie the Marauders NCAA-era single-game records for home runs (2) and RBIs (6) in the Marauders 23-17 win at UCCS since broken by Derek Shoen.  
 
FOUR SCORE
Kyle Jameson has scored four runs in a game three times this season, tying the UMary NCAA-era single game record each time. The sophomore outfielder in his first season at UMary is 123rd in NCAA D2 in runs scored/game with 1.14. Jameson ranks 3rd in hit by pitches/game (0.62). For the season Jameson is 18-for-65 with three doubles, a triple, three home runs, 24 runs scored and 13 RBIs for a slash line of .277/.447/.492 and a .939 OPS.
 
LEADOFF
Michael Polson has settled into the leadoff slot in his first season with the Marauders. The shortstop from Westminster, CO, has produced seven multi-hit and eight multi-run games in 24 starts. He is hitting .280/.376/.370 for an .746 OPS with 25 runs scored, five doubles, two triples and 11 RBIs.  
 
POWER PLAY
After hitting one home run and 10 doubles in his first two seasons with the Marauders (159 at bats), James Martin has found his stroke as a senior in 2022. The Montana native has four home runs, four doubles and a triple in 73 at bats so far this season. The 2021 NSIC Gold Glove second baseman is hitting .219/.326/.466 for a .792 OPS with 14 runs scored and 14 RBIs.
 
DRAHEIM DELIVERS
Jonathan Draheim earned his first win of the season when he shut down Minnesota State, holding the Mavericks to no runs on two walks with six strikeouts over five innings in a 6-3 UMary win. For the season the junior righty has a 3.91 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 25.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 20 and walked five while allowing just 23 hits.
 
RECORD PERFORMANCES
The Marauders set or tied several records in UMary's 23-17 win at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Feb. 28, 2022, rallying to score the final 12 runs of the game:
  • Tied school record for runs in a game (23 also scored in 1999)
  • 23 hits new school record (22 in 2000)
  • 21 RBIs new school record (20 in 1999, 2008)
  • 7 doubles (new NCAA-era record)
  • 2 home runs and 6 RBIs for Ben Prediger ties NCAA-era record
  • 4 runs scored by Michael Polson, Kyle Jameson and Derek Schoen tie NCAA-era record
 
NSIC HONORS WAGNER, PREDIGER
For the first time in program history, the University of Mary baseball team swept both the Northern Sun Player and Pitcher of the Week honors in the same week as both Ben Prediger and Austin Wagner were honored on March 1.
 
A catcher from Calgary, Alberta, Ben Prediger went 8-for-10 with a double, two home runs and 10 RBI in three wins over the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The sophomore scored seven runs and slashed .800/.833/.1.500 with a 2.333 OPS. In a 9-4 win over the Mountain Lions on Sunday Prediger was 4-for-4 in the win with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Prediger wrapped up the series in a record performance on Monday in a 23-17 win as the Marauders tied a school record for runs in a game and establish new marks for hits (23) and runs batted in (21) in a single game. Prediger blasted two home runs and drove in six runs to tie UMary's NCAA era highs in both categories. He was 3-for-3 with three runs scored as the Marauders rallied from a 10-run deficit after four innings. Coming off the bench in the seventh inning, Prediger scored the first and last run of an 8-run inning. With the Marauders down 17-11, Prediger led off with a pinch hit single before scoring on a James Martin home run. Prediger capped the inning with a 3-run home run to give UMary a 19-17 lead. He later capped the scoring with a 3-run home run in the top of the 9th inning.
 
Making his second start of the year, Wagner was once again dominant on the hill. The junior lefthander struck out 11 in five innings on his way to his second win in the Marauders 15-5 victory at UCCS. Wagner allowed just two hits and didn't walk a batter. The lone run scored against him was unearned. The strikeouts matched his career high.
 
Prediger is the Marauders first NSIC Player of the Week since Jason Shaul was honored in April 2014. The previous Marauders NSIC Pitcher of the week was Jonathan Draheim in April 2021.
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW | 2022 EDITION
7 | The Marauders return seven regulars from 2021
 
14 | 14 of the Marauders top 15 pitchers return from 2021
 
2021 IN REVIEW
  • 3B Calvin James was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year in 2021 and was a first team selection. James slashed .358.443/.636/1.079 with 34 runs scored. 13 doubles, 9 home runs and 34 RBIs.
  • 1B/P Derek Schoen earned 2021 All-NSIC first team honors as a first baseman. He slashed .340/.414/.667/1.081 with 32 runs scored, 10 doubles, 11 home runs, and 32 RBIs. He also struck out 33 hitters in 37 innings on the hill.
  • 2B James Martin was selected the 2021 NSIC Gold Glove winner at second base. He committed just one error in 142 chances for a .993 fielding percentage. Martin also turned 11 double plays. Offensively he stole nine bases and scored 18 runs.   
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW | 2021 EDITION
21 | The Marauders set an NCAA-era program record (2007 and on) for wins in a season. The old mark was 18 in 2010. This is the most wins overall for the Marauders since posting 30 wins in 2002.
 
18 | The 18 wins in NSIC play set a team record, eclipsing the previous total of 14 in 2008.
 
.563 | The Marauders NSIC winning percentage of .563 (18-14) is a program-best, ahead of the program mark of .550 (11-9) in 2007. The 2007 season – UMary's 1st year in the Northern Sun – is the only other season the Marauders have had a winning record in the NSIC.
 
2002 | The Marauders finished 2021 with a winning record for the first time since 2002, when UMary went 30-15, won the DAC-10 tournament and advanced to the NAIA regional tournament.
 
343 | UMary pitchers struck out a school-record 343 hitters in 2021
 
6 | Jonathon Draheim set a Marauders UMary NCAA-era single season record for wins with six. The previous record was five by Matt Medeiros (2010) and Jeff Skadeland (2013). The school record for single season wins is 10 by Marauders Hall of Famer Ryan Astle in 2002. Draheim threw a no-hitter during the season. He led the Marauders in innings pitched (55.1) and had a 4.23 ERA. Draheim walked six, struck out 44 and had four complete games. 
 
5 |Paxton Miller set a Marauders NCAA-era (2007 and on) record for saves in a season with five. The previous high was three by Chris Scott and Charles Bielejeski in 2019 and Travis Famias in 2012. The school record is eight by Chad Kruckenberg (1998) and Travis Dressler (2004).
 
1.6 | Andrew Brooks averaged 1.6 strikeouts/inning. The righthander fanned 38 batters in 24 innings and allowed just 11 hits.
 
.968 | The Marauders set a school record for fielding percentage at .968. The old record was .962 in 2013. UMary ranked 4th in the NSIC and 46th in NCAA D2. 
 
50 | The Marauders 50 home runs in 2021 set a new school record (48 in 2000)
 
11 | Derek Schoen hit 11 home runs in 2021, one shy of the school record of 12 set by Steve Laasko in 1998… Jeff Wedul (2000), Todd Houston (1998), and Tyler Liffrig (2008, 2009) also hit 11... Schoen and Liffrig are tied for the NCAA-era home run record.
 
10 | Ty Jones finished 2021 with 10 home runs, one behind Derek Schoen. He is tied for 7th in a single season at UMary.
 
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Players Mentioned

Andrew Brooks

#16 Andrew Brooks

RHP
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Jonathan Draheim

#37 Jonathan Draheim

RHP/C
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
Cal James

#5 Cal James

INF
5' 10"
Sophomore
L/R
Kody Jones

#31 Kody Jones

RHP
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
Ty Jones

#9 Ty Jones

OF/RHP
6' 2"
Senior
R/R
James Martin

#2 James Martin

INF
5' 10"
Senior
R/R
Paxton Miller

#19 Paxton Miller

RHP
6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
Derek Shoen

#23 Derek Shoen

INF/RHP
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
Austin Wagner

#13 Austin Wagner

LHP
6' 3"
Junior
L/L
Kyle Jameson

#1 Kyle Jameson

INF
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
Ben Prediger

#11 Ben Prediger

C
6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
Michael Polson

#4 Michael Polson

INF
6' 4"
Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Andrew Brooks

#16 Andrew Brooks

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Jonathan Draheim

#37 Jonathan Draheim

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
RHP/C
Cal James

#5 Cal James

5' 10"
Sophomore
L/R
INF
Kody Jones

#31 Kody Jones

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Ty Jones

#9 Ty Jones

6' 2"
Senior
R/R
OF/RHP
James Martin

#2 James Martin

5' 10"
Senior
R/R
INF
Paxton Miller

#19 Paxton Miller

6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Derek Shoen

#23 Derek Shoen

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
INF/RHP
Austin Wagner

#13 Austin Wagner

6' 3"
Junior
L/L
LHP
Kyle Jameson

#1 Kyle Jameson

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
INF
Ben Prediger

#11 Ben Prediger

6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
C
Michael Polson

#4 Michael Polson

6' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
INF