THIS WEEK
The University of Mary baseball team opens an 8-game home stand when the Marauders host the University of Sioux Falls Cougars in a 3-game Northern Sun series Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21. Saturday is a doubleheader starting at 12 noon. First pitch in a single 9-inning game on Sunday is set for 12 noon.
 
MARAUDERS, LARKS TEAM UP TO BRING FUN TO THE BALLPARK FOR UMARY-USF GAME APRIL 20
The University of Mary and the Bismarck Larks are teaming up this Saturday, April 20, to create a FUN game for Larks fans, UMary students and alumni and all baseball fans when the Marauders host the University of Sioux Falls in Northern Sun action. Fans will enjoy on-field games in-between innings and video board fan cams (like the KISS CAM) during the Marauders 2:30 pm game just like the Larks experience.
 
The Larks will also have big inflatables for kids to enjoy, the speed pitch set up to test out who has the strongest arm and more.
 
Concessions will be available for purchase at the game including cold adult beverages for 21+ fans and cold NA beverages for fans under 21.
 
$10 tickets are now available for the 2:30 pm game at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark Home of Dakota Community Bank & Trust Field. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online.
 
Tickets purchased at the gate Saturday are $15 (NOTE: Your ticket is good for both games). Game one of the Marauders-Cougars twin bill starts at 12 noon. Gates open for fans at 11:30 am. UMary students, faculty and staff are admitted free with their MCard.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Live video and stats are provided for University of Mary home games and Northern Sun contests. Visit www.GoUMary.com/coverge for available links.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 15-20 overall and 11-14 (9^th place) in the Northern Sun… The Cougars are 21-16 overall and 14-13 (7^th place) in the Northern Sun.   
 
LAST WEEK
After taking one of three games at St. Cloud State University, the Marauders claimed a split in a midweek doubleheader at Minot State University, The Marauders rallied to win game two 8-6 over the Beavers as Dylan Edmands hit a two-run home run in the 8^th inning and Mark Schommer struck out four in two shutout innings of work.
 
NEARLY PERFECT
Mark Schommer has been close to perfect in his senior season. The Marauders reliever has allowed one run in 15.1 innings of work covering eight outings, including one start. He has struck out 22 and walked one while giving up eight hits. With a record of 2-0 with three saves, Schommer has a 0.59 ERA and a WHIP of 0.59.
 
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 11^th in NCAA Division II in home runs/game (1.60) and 19^th in total home runs (56). UMary is 33^rd in the nation in slugging percentage (.507)… The 56 home runs are the second-most the Marauders have hit in a season, surpassing the total of 51 long balls hit in 2022.  
 
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Noah Hull is climbing the all-time leader board in home runs and RBIs at UMary. The senior first baseman is tied for 4^th in home runs with 27, equaling the number hit by Jeff Wedul. Tyler Liffrig (39) is the record-holder, followed by Derek Shoen (37) and Cal James (29). The All-NSIC performer is the 7^th UMary player to crack the century mark in RBIs (102). Wedul (141) and Liffrig (141) are tied for the all-time lead, followed by Shoen (135), James (133), Mike Feldman (105) and Brennan Quintas (103).
 
SPENCER CLOSING ON 2^nd IN BASEBALL COACHING WINS
In just his fifth season as the UMary head baseball coach, Tanner Spencer has accumulated 86 wins and is approaching second place for career baseball coaching wins. Steve LeGrand leads the way with 121 (1997-2001), followed by Brad Walsh with 90 (2005-11). The Marauders have eclipsed 20 wins each of the last three seasons, the only 20 win seasons for UMary since beginning NCAA play in spring 2007.
 
BECK BITES
Freshman Carter Beck is off to a tremendous start to his collegiate career. The outfielder from Carnduf, Saskatchewan, has spent much of the season among the NCAA D2 leaders in numerous hitting categories. He is s hitting .336/.429/.624 with a 1.053 OPS. In 33 games he has scored 34 runs, has five doubles, two triples and nine home runs with 37 RBIs.
 
NCAA RANKINGS
Marauders ranking in the NCAA Division II top 100:
Kalem Haney

• 27^th in triples (4)
• 39^th in triples/game (.11)

Michael Polson

• 27^th in triples (4)
• 19^th in triples/game (.13)

Carter Beck

• 87^th in home runs/game (.27)

Daniel Martin

• 92^nd in Hit by pitch/game (.33)

 
Team Rankings (245 team ranked)

• 11^th Home Runs/Game (1.60)
• 33^rd Slugging Percentage (.507)
• 19^th home runs (56)
• 48^th triples/game (.31)
• 89^th Scoring (7.3 runs/game)
• 96^th Doubles/game (1.86)

 
THE BATS

• Playing a combination of positions this season, Michael Polson is hitting .336/.388/.655 for a 1.043 OPS. He has eight doubles, four triples and seven home runs with 26 runs scored and 24 RBIs.
• A triple machine with a team-leading four on the season, So. 2B Kalem Haney is hitting .331/.437/.519 with a .956 OPS. He is second on the team with 30 runs scored, owns 26 RBIs, and has eight doubles and three home runs.
• An All-NSIC DH last year as the Marauders home run leader, Noah Hull is playing 1B and is hitting .324/.400/.581 with a .981 OPS. Hull has nine home runs, scored 26 times and has driven in 29.
• Newcomer Dylan Edmands, a Sr. 3B who transferred from Liberty University, is hitting .274/.353/.487 (.840 OPS) with 28 runs scored, seven home runs and 23 RBIs.
• Daniel Martin is 5^th on the team with five home runs. The Sr. OF owns a slash line of .287/.401/.470 (.871 OPS). He has scored 23 times and driven in 17.

 
THE HILL

• Sr. RHP Paxton Miller leads the Marauders in innings pitched (39.2) and strikeouts (37). He owns a 7.71 ERA with a 2-3 record.
• Alec Danen owns a 2-2 record in his first season at UMary. The RHP from Sheboygan, WI, transferred to the Marauders from Viterbo University has a 7.52 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP with 29 strikeouts in 32.1 innings.
• Lukas Frers has pitched 33.1 innings and struck out 25 in his first season at UMary.   

 
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.
 
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.
 
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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