JAMESTOWN, ND - Two excellent debuts from freshmen
Arria Johnson and
Jenel Mallari helped lead the University of Mary softball team to a split in their season opener, losing 9-1 to Jamestown University before coming back to beat Dickinson State University 8-0.
GAME ONE RECAP
The Marauders opened their first game of the season tremendously as
Sariah Perez tripled to right center in the first at-bat of the year. Janelle Bergman then laced a single up the middle to give UMary a 1-0 lead.
Jamestown responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Starting pitcher
Nicole Eckhardt settled down after the first, allowing only one unearned run over the next three innings.
Emari Evans relived Eckhardt in the fifth inning and recorded three outs without giving up a hit.
The bottom of the sixth inning saw the Jimmies put the game away as Jamestown scored four runs, ending the game at 9-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
GAME TWO RECAP
It was a phenomenal debut performance for
Arria Johnson as the freshman pitched five shutout innings, allowing only three hits and striking out six batters.
UMary opened the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back singles by
Jenel Mallari and
Sariah Perez. Janelle Bergman then recorded two RBIs as she drove both runners in after she singled up the middle.
The Marauders extended their lead to 3-0 in the second inning after Mallari singled to second base and
Hannah Chambers came around to score on an error. Following a Perez walk, Bergman hit a ground-rule double to bring home Mallari.
Francesca Villaneda increased UMary's lead to 5-0 after recording a single to right field, scoring Perez.
The bottom of the third saw Mallari smash an RBI triple to right center, scoring
Hannah Chambers.
The Marauders took a 7-0 lead in the fifth inning after Perez brought home Chambers with a single to the shortstop. Villaneda walked the Marauders off as she delivered an RBI single to left field, giving UMary an 8-0 win after five innings.
The Marauders return to Jamestown, ND, to take on Mayville State University on Sunday, February 11, at 12 pm. UMary then takes on the University of Jamestown at 2:30 pm.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jenel Mallari went 3-for-3 with one triple, one RBI and three runs scored
- Janelle Bergman went 2-for-3 with one double, one walk and three RBIs
- Francesca Villaneda went 3-for-4 with two RBIs
- Sariah Perez went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored
The Marauders wrap up opening weekend of the 2024 season at the Jamestown Softball Dome Tournament on Sunday, February 11, facing Mayville State University at 12 noon and host University of Jamestown at 2:30 pm.
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