THIS WEEK
Coming off a second straight Northern Sun tournament appearance, the University of Mary opens the 2023 season with four games at the University of Central Oklahoma on February 10-12, at Wendall Simmons Field in Edmond, OK. The Marauders open with a single game against the Bronchos at 3 pm on Friday, February 10, before playing a doubleheader starting at 12 noon on Saturday, February 11. The series wraps up with a single game on Sunday, February 12, at 12 noon.  
 
Before retuning home, the Marauders visit Southern Nazarene University on February 14 for a Valentines Day doubleheader in Bethany, Oklahoma. First pitch for the twin bill is slated for 12 noon.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders finished the 2022 season 24-27 overall and 16-18 in NSIC play to place 8^th in the league… The Bronchos are 4-0 to start the 2023 season. UCO was 29-21 last year and 20-13 in the MIAA… SNU is 1-3 this year and finished 2022 13-37 overall and 6-27 in GAC play.
 
PROJECTIONS
After back-to-back NSIC tournament appearances – the first in program history – the Marauders were picked to finish 4^th in the 2023 NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll. This is the highest preseason projection for the Marauders since beginning play in the NSIC in Spring 2007.
 
2023 MARAUDERS NSIC PRESEASON PITCHER TO WATCH
Lefty Austin Wagner had a second straight dominant season for the Marauders and set a couple strikeout records along the way. The senior from Fond Du Lac, WI, posted a record of 5-4 with three complete games across 68 innings in 12 starts, all team-highs. He struck out a UMary season-record 92, an average of 12.2 per innings. His 15 strikeouts against the Bulldogs broke the school record. Wagner also walked just 15 batters and had a WHIP of 1.06.
 
2023 MARAUDERS NSIC PRESEASON PLAYER TO WATCH
A 2-time first team all-conference selection, Derek Shoen broke the Marauders single season records for home runs (15) and RBIs (51) in 2022. The senior from Truman, MN, scored 50 runs and hit .339 with a .473 on base percentage and a .644 slugging percentage. Schoen also picked up a pair of saves. Additionally he was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District baseball team. Only the fourth UMary player to earn 1st team All-NSIC honors, Shoen set single game school records with three home runs and seven RBIs last spring. Shoen is 3^rd all-time at UMary with 25 career home runs and 9^th in RBIs with 83.
 
KEY RETURNERS
An experienced ballclub, the Marauders return eight regulars in the field and nine pitchers from last year's squad. Key returners for the Marauders include 2021 All-NSIC third basemen Cal James, who set a school record with 18 doubles last year, SS Michael Polson, outfielders Kyle Jameson and Kendall Keller, OF/1B Noah Hull, and catchers Krece Papierski and Ben Prediger. Returning starting pitchers include Jonathan Draheim, who with 11 career wins is closing in on Ryan Astle's school record of 11, Kody Jones, Parker Wakelyn and Joseph Sinclair. Relievers who saw significant action last year include Liam Sommer, Paxton Miller, Mark Schommer, and Jayden Smith.
 
CAL CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Cal James, the 2021 NSIC Rookie of the Year and all-conference player, set a UMary record last season for doubles with 18. He is 7^th all-time at UMary with 31 (record 44 by Tyler Liffrig). The junior third baseman is also 8^th all-time in RBIs with 84 (Jeff Wedul and Tyler Liffrig 144) and 7^th in home runs with 18 (Liffrig 39).
 
2022 IN REVIEW | RECORDS EDITION
Here's an (almost) complete list of records set by the Marauders during the 2022 season:

• In a 23-17 win at UC Colorado Springs on Feb. 28, 2022, the Marauders tied the school record for runs in a game, set a record for hits (23), record for RBIs (21), record for doubles (7), and tied NCAA-era record for runs scored by individuals (4 by Michael Polson, Kyle Jameson and Derek Shoen)
• 8-game win streak (NCAA-era record)
• 15 strike outs by Austin Wagner against Minnesota Duluth
• 3 home runs and 7 RBIs by Derek Shoen at Augustana (single game NCAA era record)
• 6 home runs in a single game (ties NCAA era record)
• 92 strikeouts by Austin Wagner (single season record)
• 18 doubles by Cal James (single season record)
• 15 home runs by Derek Shoen (single season record)
• 51 RBIs by Derek Shoen single season record)
• 23 wins was an NCAA single season team record
• 414 strikeouts and 403.2 innings pitched– single season team record
• 51 home runs is a single season team record
• Single season team record for putouts (1,211) and total chances (1,752)

 
NEXT UP
After a 6-game run through Oklahoma, the Marauders will play five games in Colorado with a pair of games at Regis University on February 23 before a 3-game set at Metropolitan State University of Denver on Feb. 24-26.