THIS WEEK
The University of Mary baseball team opens their season with four games over the next four days against some impressive competition. UMary will play three games in the 2024 MSSU Lion Classic Friday-Sunday, Feb. 16-18, in Joplin, MO, before facing host school #14 Missouri Southern State University on Monday, Feb. 19.
 
Friday, February 16 | UMary vs. Illinois Springfield | 1 pm
Saturday, February 17 | UMary vs. Northwest Missouri | 4 pm
Sunday, February 18 | UMary vs. Lewis | 10 am
Monday, February 19 | UMary at #14 Missouri Southern State University | 1 pm
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Live stats and a live video stream are available for all four UMary games in Joplin, MO. Links can be found at www.goumary.com/coverage
 
THE RECORDS
UMary finished last season 23-27 overall and 16-19 in the NSIC… Illinois Springfield is 2-1 this season and was 36-15 with an NCAA tournament appearance last year… Lewis finished 30-23 in 2023… Northwest Missouri State is 5-3 this year and was 13-34 in 2023… #14 MSSU is 7-2 this year after finishing 45-17 with a deep run in the NCA regional tournament in 2023.
 
WE'RE BACK
The Marauder return seven of their top nine players for plate appearances and five of their top ten in innings pitched. Key returners in the field includes:

• Jr. C Krece Papierski (.347/.439/.542 OPS .981) / 7 HR,  45 RBIs, 32 R
• Sr. 1B Noah Hull (.316/.432/.652 OPS 1.084) / 13 HR, 38 RBIs, 11 2B, 35 R
• Sr. INF Michael Polson (.294/.387/.419 OPS .806) / 36 R, 9 2B, 3 HR, 30 RBIs
• Sr. OF Daniel Martin (.290/.364/.444 OPS .808) / 35 R, 10 2B, 5 HR, 33 RBIs
• Sr. OF Josh Walker (.288/.355/.552 OPS .947) / 36 R, 10 2B, 9 HR, 54 RBIs
• So. 2B Kalem Haney (.288/.377/.436 OPS .813) / 43 R, 13 2B, 2 HR, 20 RBIs
• Sr. SS Kyle Jameson (.239/.340/.396 OPS .736) / 34 R, 8 2B, 2 HR, 26 RBIs
• Sr. C/DH Ben Prediger (.353/.493/.451 OPS .944) / 18 R, 1 HR, 13 RBIs
• R-Fr. INF Isaac Pegors
• So. C Cru Walker

 
Experienced pitchers returning for the Marauders include Sr. RP Mark Schommer (1.10 ERA, 4 saves), Ryan Chamberlain, Carson Fagan. Jaxon Zanolli, Paxton Miller (3-2 W-L), Jared Arnold, DJ Contreras and Joel McGrath.
 
NEW
The Marauders will feature two new players in the lineup:

• Dylan Edmands / Gr. / 3B / Regina, Saskatchewan / Arizona Western / Liberty University
• Carter Beck / Fr. / LF / Carnduff, Saskatchewan

 
Among the new faces expecting to contribute on the mound include:

• Lukas Frers / LHP / Sr. / Surrey, BC / Arkansas-Little Rock
• Alec Danen / RHP / Jr. / Sheboygan, WI / Viterbo University
• Kevin Millar / RHP / Jr. / Georgetown, ON / St. Thomas University
• Konnor Kirchoffner / RHP / So. / Burnsville, MN / North Dakota State
• Kayden Beauregard / P/UTIL / Sr. / Abbotsford, BC / Illinois State/Emporia State

 
NSIC PLAYER TO WATCH
Noah Hull earned All-NSIC second team honors in 2023 at designated hitter. The senior from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, blasted 13 home runs to just miss the school record of 14. Hull helped the Marauders hit 72 home runs as a team to obliterate the former school record of 51, set in 2022. Also a left fielder, Hull hit .316 with a .432 on base percentage and a .652 slugging percentage in his second season at UMary. He added 11 doubles and a triple, scored 35 runs and drove in 38.
 
NSIC PITCHER TO WATCH
A right-hander relief pitcher from New Ulm, MN, Mark Schommer led the Marauders in saves with four in 2023. He also tied for the team lead in appearances (15), ERA (1.10) and WHIP (1.16). In 16.1 innings he struck out 15 and allowed just 12 hits and seven walks. A 2-time Northern Sun All-Academic Team member, Schommer earned CSC Academic All-District honors in 2023.
 
NSIC PRESEASON POLL
The Marauders are picked to finish 9th in the NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Augustana is the preseason favorite, followed by Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, Minnesota Crookston, Southwest Minnesota State, Wayne State, Minot State, Winona State, UMary, Sioux Falls, Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota Duluth, Northern State and Bemidji State. 
 
NEXT UP
UMary's NSIC schedule begins with a 4-game neutral site series against Minnesota State February 23-25 in Pittsburg, KS.
 
UMARY HOSTING 2024 NSIC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
 The 2024 NSIC Baseball Tournament features the top eight teams in the final NSIC standings. The eight-team double elimination NSIC Tournament takes place May 8-11, hosted by the University of Mary at Veterans Memorial/Municipal Ballparks in Mandan and Bismarck, ND.
 
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