BISMARCK, ND – First inning fireworks combined with stellar pitching lifted the University of Mary baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Northern State University. Playing at home in Municipal Ballpark for the first time this season and in Bismarck, ND, for just the second time, the Marauders scored seven first-inning runs in the two game on the way to 7-5 and 8-3 Northern Sun wins.
 
Noah Hull provided a fast start in the opening game with a 3-run blast in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Mark Schommer, making his first career start after 44 relief appearances, was stellar in his new role. The Marauders (13-17 overall, 9-11 NSIC) closer hadn't given up a run or a walk in 8.1 innings of relief which  included two saves and a win.
 
Schommer's scoreless string was snapped after 11 innings by a solo home run by Hesser with two outs in the third to close the gap to 3-1. The senior from New Ulm then retired the next four hitters he faced, leaving the game with a career-high four innings pitched. He allowed just two hits, one walk and one run to improve his record to 2-0.
 
A run-scoring single by Hull in the bottom of the 5^th increased UMary's lead to 4-1 before NSU (12-20, 7-15) scored two in the sixth.
 
UMary tacked on three runs in the sixth for a 7-3 lead as Kyle Jameson singled home a run before Josh Walker blasted a 2-run double high off the wall in deep center.
 
NSU made the Marauders work for the win, scoring twice in the seventh before Kayden Beauregard stranded a pair of runners on base for his first save.
 
Hull finished the opener 2 for 4 with a home run, a run scored and four RBIs. Michael Polson doubled and scored twice. Carter Beck had two hits and scored a run.
 
The Marauders started hot again in game two as once again Hull provided the spark. Hull doubled to right to score the opening run before Dylan Edmands followed with a run-scoring single. Ben Prediger then delivered the big blow, a 2-run single pulled down the left field line.
 
Following two runs by the Wolves in the third inning to cut the Marauders lead in half, Edmands hit a solo home run in the third before Beck stunned the crowd with a steal of home in the fourth. A defensive miscue by the Wolves tacked on another Marauders run in the 5^th for a 7-2 lead.
 
Both teams exchanged runs in the final three innings with Prediger delivering a run-scoring single in the 8^th for the capstone run.
 
Kevin Millar was stellar in relief for the Marauders. Coming to the aid of UMary starter Paxton Miller with two outs in the 4^th inning and two runners on base, Millar closed down the Wolves scoring threat with a strikeout and would come back to throw four more innings.
 
Millar, who earned the win and improved to 2-0 on the season, allowed one hit and one run in 4.1 innings. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter. Ryan Chamberlain pitched a scoreless 9^th inning for UMary, retiring all three batters he faced as raindrops started to fall on the field.
 
Miller finished with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings. The trio of Marauders pitchers struck out nine hitters after UMary hurlers didn't strike out an NSU batter in the opener.
 
Beck scored three runs, stole four bases and had two hits in game two. Overall UMary had seven steals.
 
Edmands was 2 for 4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs.
 
Prediger finished 3 for 4, driving in three runs. The UMary catcher also was hit by a pitch.
 
Polson scored twice and reached on a hit and a walk.
 
The Marauders next visit St. Cloud State University for three games on Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14.
 
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