MINOT, ND - The University of Mary Softball team wrapped up another weekend in the MSU Dome against another tough Augustana team. Fast starts and big-inning rallies propelled the Vikings past the Marauders in both games giving them 12-0 (5 innings) and 10-2 (6 innings) victories on Sunday.
GAME ONE
An eight-run second inning gave Augustana (21-10, 8-2 NSIC) the momentum needed to take control early in a 12-0 win in five innings over UMary (5-24, 0-10).
Leadoff batter Andrea Cain paced the Vikings offense going 2-4 with a team-high 3 runs batted in. Delaney Young, Ashton Dorman, and Liz Dierks were also difference makers with 2 RBIs each.
Nicole Eckhardt battled hard but fell with the loss. She started off strong striking out two batters in a quick first inning. Eckhardt finished with 4 strikeouts, one walk, plunked two batters and only gave up four earned runs.
Hailey Houston was dominant in her 11th win in the circle for the Vikings, going four complete and only allowing one hit to
Janelle Bergmann. Four Marauders reached on walks in the first of two Sunday afternoon.
GAME TWO
The Marauders offense started to heat up in the second game, but the Vikings were still able to clinch the victory 10-2 in six innings.
Kennedy Buckman finished 2-3 with 5 RBIs, 3 of which came on a big home run to left to power a five spot for the Vikings in the top of the first inning. Buckman's long ball came at the end of a ten-pitch at bat.
The Marauders plated one run with gritty two-out at-bats in the bottom of the first.
Sariah Perez reached on a walk,
Janelle Bergmann then cranked a two-strike line drive single into right. With runners on first and second,
Devyn Ritz worked to a full count before driving an RBI single to the gap in right-center to score Perez.
After four more Viking runs in the second and thir, the Marauders answered again as
Devyn Ritz earned a leadoff walk in the fourth, before scoring on perfectly executed sacrifice bunts by
Kaylee Kannegiesser and
Janine Warne who brought her home.
An Abby Lien double to fence scored Andrea Cain in the sixth to get back to an eight-run lead which would clinch the victory and series sweep with a 10-2 final score at the end of the sixth.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Devyn Ritz | 2-2, RBI, R, BB
Janelle Bergmann | 1-3, earned a hit in both games and drew a 16-pitch at-bat in the nightcap.
Brooke McClure | 1-3
Mckenzie Reinhardt | 1-3
UP NEXT
UMary Softball will next play MSU Moorhead (21-7, 9-1 NSIC) for a midweek doubleheader currently scheduled for Tuesday, April 11 at 2 and 4 P.M. With snow still blanketing the Marauders home field on campus, a site for the doubleheader will be determined soon.
#marauders#
