MARAUDERS HOST BLUE HAWKS IN HOME OPENER TUESDAY APRIL 2, AT SANFORD SPORTS COMPLEX
The University of Mary baseball team plays in their hometown for the first time in 2024 when the Marauders host the Dickinson State University Blue Hawks on Tuesday, April 2. Game time for this single 9-inning non-conference is 12 noon at the Sanford Sports Complex fled adjacent to Legacy High School.
 
BACK ON THE ROAD (SCHEDULE UPDATED)
The Marauders visit Augustana University for a 4-game Northern Sun set on April 5-6. With rain anticipated on Sunday, UMary and Augie play a doubleheader Friday, April 5 (3 pm & 5 pm) and a doubleheader Saturday, April 6 (12 noon and 2 pm) in Sioux Falls, SD. (The series was originally slated for four games over three days.)
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Live video and stats are provided for University of Mary home games and Northern Sun contests, plus most non-conference games. Visit www.GoUMary.com/coverge for available links.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 11-12 overall and 7-7 (8^th place) in the Northern Sun… The Blue Hawks are 5-25 overall and 3-8 in the North Star conference… The Vikings are ranked 14^th in the country with a record of 17-6 overall and 10-4 in the NSIC (3^rd place).
 
LAST WEEK
UMary dropped three of four games at Winona State University over Easter weekend in a series originally slated for Bismarck, ND, but moved due to weather concerns. The Marauders rallied to win the final game 6-6. Mark Schommer earned the win with 3.1 scoreless innings and five strikeouts. Dylan Edmands had three hits – including a home run – and scored three runs.
 
BOOM
After setting a team record for home runs last season with 72 home runs, UMary is one of the top long ball squads in the nation. The Marauders are second in NCAA Division II in home runs/game (2.04) and 13^th in total home runs (47). UMary is sixth in the nation in slugging percentage (.665).
 
RUNS GALORE
The Marauders are 34^th in NCAA D2 and 4^th in the NSIC in runs per game (8.5).
 
BECK BITES
Freshman Carter Beck is off to a tremendous start to his collegiate career. The outfielder from Carnduf, Saskatchewan, is among the NCAA D2 leaders in numerous hitting categories. He is s hitting .432/.515/.864 with a 1.379 OPS. In 21 games he has scored 26 runs, has four doubles, two triples and nine home runs with 35 RBIs. Beck ranks highly in several categories in NCAA Division II:

• 6^th home runs/game (.43)
• 3^rd RBIs/game (1.67)
• 10^th slugging percentage (.864)
• 17^th in hits/game (1.67)
• 54^th runs/game (1.24)
• 34^th in batting average (.432)
• 58^th on base percentage (.515)

 
NCAA RANKINGS
In addition to Carson Beck several other Marauders also rank in the Top 50 of NCAA Statistics:
Kalem Haney

• 10^th triples/game (.17)

Noah Hull

• 52^nd Home runs/game (.30)

Dylan Edmands

• 105^th runs/game (1.15)

 
Team Rankings

• 2^nd Home Runs/Game (2.06)
• 6^th Slugging Percentage (.565)
• 13^th home runs (47)
• 34^th Scoring (8.5 runs/game)
• 44^th Doubles/game (2.09)
• 24^th triples/game (.39)
• 58^th Batting Average (.309)

 
THE BATS

• Playing a combination of positions this season, Michael Polson is hitting .336/.384/.629 for a 1.013 OPS. He has seven doubles, two triples and five home runs with 19 runs scored and 21 RBIs.
• A triple machine with a team-leading four on the season, So. 2B Kalem Haney is hitting .337/.460/.543 with a 1.003 OPS. He is second on the team with 25 runs scored, owns 17 RBIs, and has five doubles and two home runs.
• An All-NSIC DH last year as the Marauders home run leader, Noah Hull is playing 1B and is hitting .355/.425/.634 with a 1.059 OPS. Hull has seven home runs, scored 21 times and has driven in 22.
• Newcomer Dylan Edmands, a Sr. 3B who transferred from Liberty University, is hitting .299/.382/.532 (.914 OPS) with 23 runs scored, five home runs and 15 RBIs.
• Daniel Martin is third on the team with five home runs. The Sr. OF owns a slash line of .267/.382/.488 (.870 OPS). He has scored 20 times and driven in 15.

 
THE HILL

• Sr. RHP Paxton Miller leads the Marauders starters with a 5.10 ERA this season. He has 25 strikeouts in 30 innings, both team highs.
• Alec Danen owns a 2-1 record in his first season at UMary. The RHP from Sheboygan, WI, transferred to the Marauders from Viterbo University has a 6.29 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP in 24.1 innings.
• Mark Schommer has struck out 16 hitters in 8.1 innings of relief. He has yet to allow a run or a walk and owns the Marauders two saves. He has a 1-0 record.

 
FUNDAMENTALS
The Marauders have committed just 29 errors in 23 games for a .963 fielding percentage. UMary opponents have committed 43 errors and have a .946 fielding percentage.  
 
HULL NAMED NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK MARCH 18
University of Mary first baseman Noah Hull earned Northern Sun Baseball Player of the Week honors March 18 after leading the Marauders to three wins in four games against Concordia-St. Paul. Hull led a Marauders offensive onslaught that hit 13 home runs and scored 48 runs in the weekend series. Hull slashed .562/.611/1.250 (9-of-17) for an OPS of 1.861 in four games. The senior from Scarborough, Ontario, had at least one hit in every game and recorded two doubles and three home runs while scoring seven runs and driving in six.
 
The 2023 All-NSIC second team designated hitter went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and three runs scored in an opening 16-15 walk-off win. He finished the series with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored in the final game.
 
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 for  second straight season 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

 
2024 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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