THIS WEEK
Northern Sun play opens this weekend for the University of Mary baseball team when the Marauders face Minnesota State University in a four game set Friday-Sunday, February 23-25. The four games will be played in Elkhorn, NE, at the Frerichs Legion Field. Friday is a single game (2 pm), followed by a doubleheader Saturday (1:30 pm) before wrapping up with one final game Sunday (12 noon).
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders opened the season with four games in Joplin, MO. After opening with losses to Illinois-Springfield (a 2023 NCAA regional participant) and Northwest Missouri State, the Marauders outslugged Lewis 16-14 for the first win of the season. The Marauders wrapped up with a tough 7-4 loss to host school and #14 Missouri Southern after bringing the winning run to the plate in the 9^th inning.
 
HOT BATS
The Marauders had a strong start at the plate, slashing .297/.382/.458 and scoring 28 runs over four games… Kalem Haney led the way with a 12-for-19 effort in the leadoff slot. The sophomore 2B had for triples, scored six runs and drove in seven. He had at least two hits in each game, including four hits twice… Freshman Carter Beck was 7-of-14 in his first three college games. Beck had a double, a triple, scored three times and drove in three… Daniel Martin was 6-for 17, scored four runs and drove in two… All-NSIC senior 1B Noah Hull drove in five runs and was 6-for-17 with a double… Redshirt freshman Isaac Pegors and graduate transfer Dylan Edmands his their first home runs for UMary in the win over Lewis.
 
CLEAN
Playing their first games of the season, the Marauders committed just three errors in four games to five for the opposition.
 
ON THE HILL
Mark Schommer earned a save in his lone outing of the week, pitching two scoreless innings to shut down a Lewis comeback attempt in UMary 16-14 win. The senior righty struck out four and allowed one hit… Ryan Chamberlain tossed 6.1 innings of relief against Northwest Missouri State, UMary's longest outing of the weekend. The sophomore allowed just one run on five hits. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter… 15 Marauders took to the mound on opening weekend… 9 pitchers made their Marauders debut in Joplin.
 
ON DECK
After the Minnesota State series, the Marauders stay on the road with five games in Colorado at UC Colorado Springs February 28, Colorado Christian for two games on March 1, Metro State Denver March 2, and Colorado School of Mines March 3.  
 
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.
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
THE RECORDS
UMary finished the 2023 season 23-27 overall and 16-19 in the NSIC.
 
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

 
2020 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.
 
2024 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.
 
2024 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.
 
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