THIS WEEK
An 8-game home stand continues for the University of Mary baseball team when the Marauders hosts Bemidji State University on Wednesday, April 24, and Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28, in Northern Sun action.
 
Wednesday, April 24
Bemidji State at UMary
1:30 pm and 3:30 pm
Municipal Ballpark
 
Saturday, April 27 | Senior Day
Southwest Minesota State at UMary
12 noon and 2 pm
Municipal Ballpark
 
Sunday, April 28
Southwest Minesota State at UMary
12 noon
Municipal Ballpark
 
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 18-20 overall and 14-14 (7^th place) in the Northern Sun… The Bemidji State Beavers are 1-39 overall and 0-30 (14^th place) in the Northern Sun… The SMSU Mustangs are 23-15 overall and 17-12 (6^th place) in the NSIC.    
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders swept a 3-game home series from the University of Sioux Falls with each game by  double-digit margin (13-2, 14-4, 13-3). Two of the games ended early by the 10-run rule.
 
SENIOR DAY
The University of Mary will honor 16 seniors on Senior Day Saturday, April 27. The 2024 Marauders seniors are: Kyle Jameson, Dyland Edmands, Michael Polson, Daniel Martin, Kayden Beauregard, Ben Prediger, Josh Walker, Paxton Miller, Jared Arnold, Robert Egan, Lukas Frers, Noah Hull, Joel McGrath, Alec Danen, Mark Schommer and Thomas Little.
 
RISING TIDE
The Marauders have jumped into 7^th place in the NSIC with seven wins in their last ten games, including five straight wins at home. The top eight teams in the NSIC earn a spot in the conference tournament held May 8-11 in Bismarck, ND.
 
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 3^rd in home runs with 27, equaling the number hit by former teammate Cal James. Tyler Liffrig (39) is the record-holder, followed by Derek Shoen (37). The All-NSIC performer is the 7^th UMary player to crack the century mark in RBIs and is 5^th in program history (108). Jeff Wedul (141) and Liffrig (141) are tied for the all-time lead, followed by Shoen (135) and James (133).
 
SPENCER CLOSING ON 2^nd IN BASEBALL COACHING WINS
In just his fifth season as the UMary head baseball coach, Tanner Spencer has accumulated 89 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.
 
FRERS Ks 12 TO EARN NSIC PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS
A dominant effort by University of Mary righthander Lukas Frers set a strong tone for the weekend and earned the senior righthander Northern Sun Baseball Pitcher of the Week honors. Pitching the opener of a 3-game series against the University of Sioux Falls, Frers struck out a dozen batters during five shutout innings of a 13-2 UMary win. The Marauders then claimed the next two games for a weekend sweep of the Cougars, propelling UMary into 7th place in the NSIC standings. The native of Surrey, BC, Canada, limited the Cougars to two hits. He also didn't walk a batter in his five innings. During one stretch Frers struck out seven straight batters as he retired nine straight Cougars. Frers retired the last four hitters he faced in the game on strikes. He had three innings out of five where he fanned all three hitters in the inning.
 
WALKER EQUALS MARAUDERS NCAA RECORDS FOR HITS, DOUBLES
Josh Walker tied the Marauders NCAA-era record for doubles and hits in a game against Sioux Falls on Sunday. Walker blasted four doubles and pounded out five hits in a 13-3 win. Walker matched the feat performed by Alec Batest, who hit four doubles and had five hits against Southern Nazarene University on February 1, 2020. Walker and Batest are the only two Marauders with four doubles in a game since UMary began NCAA play in Spring 2007. Seven Marauders now have five hits in a single game during the NCAA era with Cal James last performing the feat twice in 2021.
 
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.
 
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 .353/.438/.612 with a 1.050 OPS. In 36 games he has scored 41 runs, has five doubles, two triples and nine home runs with 40 RBIs.
 
NCAA RANKINGS
Marauders ranking in the NCAA Division II top 100:
Kalem Haney

• 31^st in triples (4)
• 41^st in triples/game (.11)

Michael Polson

• 31^st in triples (4)
• 18^th in triples/game (.13)

Noah Hull

• 72^nd home runs/game (.29)

 
Team Rankings (245 team ranked)

• 12^th Home Runs/Game (1.55)
• 19^th home runs (59)
• 28^th Slugging Percentage (.516)
• 52^nd Doubles/game (2.03)
• 61^st Scoring (7.8 runs/game)
• 63^rd triples/game (.29)
• 78^th Strikeouts per nine innings (8.2)
• 89^th batting average (.301)

 
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 .352/.457/.531 with a .988 OPS. He is second on the team with 36 runs scored, owns 29 RBIs, and has nine 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 .340/.424/.619 with a 1.043 OPS. Hull has 11 home runs, scored 31 times and has driven in 35.
• Newcomer Dylan Edmands, a Sr. 3B who transferred from Liberty University, is hitting .278/.366/.492 (.858 OPS) with 32 runs scored, seven home runs and 27 RBIs.
• Daniel Martin is 5^th on the team with five home runs. The Sr. OF owns a slash line of .288/.407/.456 (.863 OPS). He has scored 25 times and driven in 21.
• Limited to 23 games, Josh Walker is finding his groove at the plate. Walker leads the team with 13 doubles and has five home runs, 30 RBIs and 26 runs scored. He is hitting .378/.472/.689 for a 1.161 OPS

 
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 3-2 record in his first season at UMary. The RHP from Sheboygan, WI, transferred to the Marauders from Viterbo University has a 6.99 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP with 33 strikeouts in 37.1 innings.
• Lukas Frers has pitched 38.1 innings and struck out 37 in his first season at UMary. He has walked just 12 hitters and has one complete 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.
 
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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