MINOT, ND - A pair of pitchers duels highlighted the University of Mary Softball team's final series in the NSIC Bubble Bash. Emari Evans and Jamison Ness each pitched career performances as Minnesota Duluth escaped Minot with 3-0 and 4-2 wins Sunday night. 

GAME ONE
Two gutsy pitching performances highlighted the Marauders (5-20, 0-6 NSIC) 3-0 defeat to the Bulldogs (19-6, 5-1 NSIC) in the first of two games. 

Though tagged with the loss, Nicole Eckhardt battled with a resilient Marauders defense behind her. Eckhardt took a come-back line drive off of her face mask in the third inning, but showed tremendous grit to shake it off and complete the frame. The junior RHP from Cornelius, OR finished only giving up two hits and two runs to one of the NSIC's strongest teams. 

Jamison Ness followed in relief with her most impressive pitching performance yet in the orange and blue. Pitching four complete innings, Ness kept the Bulldogs at bay not allowing a single hit, giving up only one run, three walks, and fanning three batters. 

To make it a complete pitcher's duel, Lauren Dixon showcased why she is one of the top hurlers in the Northern Sun. Dixon earned a complete game shutout registering 14 strikeouts through seven complete innings, allowing only three hits and two walks. 

Mckenzie Reinhardt went 1-2 and walked. Kaylee Kannegiesser and Brooke De Jonge both went 1-3. A ten-game hitting streak by standout true freshman Janelle Bergmann, unfortunately, came to an end in the first game on Sunday. 

GAME TWO
A three-run sixth-inning rally helped lift Minnesota Duluth past UMary 4-2 in what could have been a defiant upset for the Marauders.

Emari Evans had the biggest performance of the nightcap, starting and pitching five complete innings in the driver's seat. Evans held the Bulldogs to one run and four hits while walking five and plunking one. Evans also had great defense behind her as the Marauders only committed one error in the second at-bat of the game. 

UMary jumped on the scoreboard first, orchestrating two runs in the second inning. With two runners on second and third, Francesca Villaneda brought Brooke McClure home to score on a sacrifice bunt for the game's first run. Kaylee Kannegiesser followed the next at-bat driving home Madison Wszolek on an RBI single to center field. 

After Evans' exit, the Bulldogs took their first lead of the game as Kendal Jenkins crushed a two-RBI double to the fence in left-center to put UMD ahead 3-2. The Bulldogs would scrape one more in the top of the sixth inning for the game's final score 4-2. Allison Luoma earned the win while Hannah Chambers was charged with the loss. 

UP NEXT
UMary Softball is currently scheduled to play the University of Minnesota Crookston in Aberdeen, SD on Tuesday, April 4 at noon and 2 pm. With another snowstorm potentially impacting North Dakota early this next week, follow along at goumary.com and on social media pages @umarysports for any weather-related updates and announcements. 

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