Box Score FAYETTE, IA – Big bats leading to big innings rallied visiting University of Mary to a 12-8 win over Upper Iowa University in the 2023 Marauders Northern Sun opener. UMary scored runs in five straight innings to overcome a 7-run deficit while the Marauders bullpen held the Peacocks in check.
 
Led by Derek Shoen and Daniel Martin, the Marauders produced 12 runs on 14 hits, including five extra base knocks. Shoen drove in five runs and had a double and home run. Martin recorded a team-high four hits, scored three runs and drove in two.
 
A shaky start by the Marauders (8-8 overall, 1-0 NSIC) helped the Peacocks (4-8, 0-1) jump out to an 8-1 lead through three innings. UMary committed five of its six errors in the game during that stretch, leading to six unearned runs.
 
A 2-run Noah Hull in the fourth was the first two of 11 straight runs scored by UMary. A 2-run double by Martin and a 2-run home run by Shoen in the 5^th cut the gap to 8-7. The Marauders claimed their first lead of the day on a run scoring single by Shoen and a wild pitch that plated Martin with the go-ahead run at 9-7.
 
The Marauders tacked on three more runs in the seventh. A Michael Polson ground out scored Kendall Keller. Two batters later Shoen smacked a 2-run double to center field to finish the Marauders scoring run.
 
Never fading away, the Peacocks made another run in the 8^th, loading the bases with two outs. Despite entering the game in a tight situation, Mark Schommer struck out the only batter he faced in the inning to retire the side. Schommer then closed out the game with a scoreless ninth to earn a save. He finished with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.
 
Carson Fagan picked up the win for the Marauders, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings of relief. He gave up four hits, walked four and struck out seven.
 
Polson scored three runs for the Marauders and drove home one. Keller scored twice for UMary. Kalem Haney chipped in three hits and scored once.
 
Justin Baehler led Upper Iowa with three hits. Ryan Hull scored twice and drove in two runs.
 
Both teams had plenty more opportunities to score. UMary stranded 12 runners and Upper Iowa 15.
 
The Marauders and the Peacocks close out their three-game series with a doubleheader starting at 12 noon on Monday, March 20.
 
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