MANDAN, ND – Cal James blasted two home runs to tie his personal best collegiate effort to cap an impressive individual weekend for the University of Mary third baseman. In the first three home games of the season for the Marauders, James posted six hits against Southwest Minnesota State University, including three home runs.
 
Despite three hits from James, including the 51^st round tripper of the season for the Marauders overall to tie the school record set last season, UMary couldn't keep pace with SMSU in a 10-7 loss to the Mustangs.
 
James finished the game with three hits in three at bats. He scored three times and walked once in the loss. Over the three games the native of Buffalo, MN, was 6-for-9 with five runs scored, four RBIs, two home runs and a walk. He was also hit by two pitches and was on base nine times.
 
As in the first two games of the series, the Mustangs scored first with a 5-run outburst in the second inning that included a 3-run home run by Robbie Smith. UMary was down 6-0 before James hit a solo home run in the third to make the score 6-1. Trailing 9-1 after the fourth inning, James hit a 2-run blast in the fifth inning before a Krece Papierski run-scoring single closed the gap to 9-4.
 
The Marauders scored single runs in each of the last three innings but left the bases loaded in the seventh and two runners on in each of the eighth and ninth innings.
 
Derek Shoen also had two hits in the game and scored a run. Kendall Keller knocked a pinch hit double in the ninth for the Marauders third extra base hit in the game.
 
Jaxon Zanolli was stellar in a relief effort, allowing one run in 4.1 innings, striking out six and walking one. Mark Schommer finished with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
 
Chase McDaniel was 3-for-5 for the Mustangs with a home run, two runs scored and four RBIs. Keenan Wenzel added four hits.
 
The Marauders next host the University of Minnesota Crookston on Wednesday, April 19. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 pm at Bismarck's Municipal Ballpark.
 
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