THIS WEEK
For the third time in four seasons, the University of Mary baseball team competes in postseason play. Host of the 2024 Northern Sun tournament, the #7 seed Marauders face #2 Minnesota State University in the opening round at 6 pm on Wednesday, May 8, at Veterans Memorial Ballpark at BNC Field in Mandan, ND.
 
Should the Marauders win they would play Wednesday, May 9, at 3:30 pm against the winner of the #3 Minnesota Crookston/#6 Southwest Minnesota State game at Veterans Memorial Ballpark in Mandan. A loss means the Marauders will face the loser of the UMC/SMSU game at 12 noon at Municipal Ballpark in Bismarck. Visit www.northernsun.org/NSICBase for brackets.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders completed the regular season 23-25 overall and 19-19 in the NSIC to place 7th… The Mavericks are 34-16 overall and finished 2^nd in the NSIC at 29-10.
 
THE MATCHUP
The Marauders and the Mavericks split their 4-game season series February 23-25 in Elkhorn, NE. UMary won the opener 17-7 before MSU claimed a 13-5 win. The Marauders took game three 11-6 with the Mavericks taking the final game 18-8.
 
THE FIELD
Joining the #7 Marauders and #2 Mavericks in the NSIC baseball tournament are #1 seed Augustana, #3 Minnesota Crookston, #4 St. Cloud State, #5 Wayne State College, #6 Southwest Minnesota State and #8 Concordia-St Paul.
 
NSIC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO BISMARCK-MANDAN
The 2024 Northern Sun baseball tournament is returning to the Bismarck and Mandan communities for a second straight year. Hosted by the University of Mary, the top eight teams in the final NSIC regular season standings will participate in the double-elimination tournament running Wednesday through Sunday, May 8-11, at Veterans Memorial Ballpark at BNC Field in Mandan, ND, and Municipal Ballpark at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Field in Bismarck, ND.
 
NSIC TOURNEY SCHEDULE
The opening day of the NSIC tournament on Wednesday, May 8, features four games with two played at each ballpark. On Thursday, May 9, three games will be played at both ballparks beginning at 12 noon. Starting Friday May 10, all games will be played at Veterans Memorial Ballpark in Mandan with three games starting at 12 noon. The NSIC championship game is slated for Saturday, May 11. First pitch is 12 noon. A second game will be played if needed. Visit www.NorthernSun.org/NSICBase for the complete tournament schedule.
 
ON THE LINE
The winner of the NSIC Baseball Tournament will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Central Region Tournament. The 38-team NCAA Central Region is made up of teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC). Automatic bids are awarded to the tournament champions from each conference with the final five spots awarded on an at-large basis.
 
2024 NSIC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Tickets: Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of the tournament. The All-Tournament Pass MUST be purchased online or at the gate from your phone. Ticket options include a mobile version or a print at home option. Purchases at the gate are CASH ONLY. Credit card sales must be made online.
www.northernsun.org/Tickets 
 
Entrance: Both field locations will open for spectators one hour prior to the first game of each day. NO pets are allowed in either stadium, service animals are welcome.
 
Food/Drink: Spectators are NOT allowed to bring coolers into the stadiums. Concessions will be available with cash & credit card options for payment.
 
NSIC Network Access: The NSIC tournament will be streamed on the NSIC Network for a charge of $10 per game or $30 for a tournament pass.
 
FAQ and troubleshooting information is available on the NSIC Network Help page.
 
Tournament website: Visit www.northernsun.org/NSICBase for all tournament information, including links for tickets, live stats, web stream, schedules, brackets and more!
 
 
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.
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders went 1-4 on the road during the final week of the regular season. The Marauders dropped two games at Minnesota Crookston (L 11-4, L 11-10) and 2-of-3 at Minnesota Duluth (L 4-1, W 7-2, L 5-2).  
 
 
BOOM
After setting a team record for home runs last season with 72 home runs, UMary is once again one of the top long ball squads in the nation. The Marauders are 19^th in NCAA Division II in home runs/game (1.44) and 24^th in total home runs (69). UMary is 29^th in the nation in slugging percentage (.513)… Fast approaching the school record, the 69 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 3^rd in home runs with 31. Tyler Liffrig (39) is the career 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 (113). Jeff Wedul (141) and Liffrig (141) are tied for the all-time lead in runs batted in, followed by Shoen (135) and Cal James (133).
 
SPENCER 2^nd IN BASEBALL COACHING WINS
In just his fifth season as the Marauders head baseball coach, Tanner Spencer has accumulated 94 wins and moved into second place in career coaching victories at UMary. Steve LeGrand leads the way with 121 (1997-2001) with Brad Walsh third with 90 (2005-11). The Marauders have eclipsed 20 wins each of the last four seasons, the only 20 win seasons for UMary since beginning NCAA play in spring 2007.
 
NEARLY PERFECT
Mark Schommer has been close to perfect in his senior season. The Marauders reliever has allowed one run in 21 innings of work covering 12 outings, including one start. He has struck out 31 and walked two while giving up nine hits. With a record of 3-0 with four saves, Schommer has a 0.43 ERA and a WHIP of 0.52.
 
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 hitting .362/.438/.638 with a 1.076 OPS. In 46 games he has scored 49 runs, has ten doubles, three triples and 11 home runs with 49 RBIs... He just missed hitting for the cycle in the opener at Minnesota Crookston as he had a double, triple and home run in the game… Also owns a steal of home this year.  
 
NCAA RANKINGS
Marauders ranking in the NCAA Division II top 100:
Kalem Haney

• 44^th in triples (4)
• 69^th in triples/game (.09)

Michael Polson

• 44^th in triples (4)

Noah Hull

• 74^th home runs (13)
• 98^th home runs/game (.27)

Mark Schommer

• 89^th saves (4)

Carter Beck

• 99^th triples (3)

 
Team Rankings (245 team ranked)

• 19^th Home Runs/Game (1.44)
• 24^th home runs (69)
• 29^th Slugging Percentage (.513)
• 32^nd Doubles/game (2.13)
• 68^th Scoring (7.5 runs/game)
• 70^th Strikeouts per nine innings (8.3)
• 66^th Triples (13)
• 70^th Runs (351)
• 72^nd triples/game (.27)
• 85^th batting average (.304)
• 98^th stolen bases/game (1.42)

 
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 .367/.468/.567 with a 1.035 OPS. He is second on the team with 47 runs scored, owns 43 RBIs, and has 13 doubles and five home runs.
• An All-NSIC DH last year as the Marauders home run leader, Noah Hull is playing 1B and is hitting .330/.410/.600 with a 1.010 OPS. Hull has 11 doubles, 13 home runs, scored 41 times and has driven in 40.
• Newcomer Dylan Edmands, a Sr. 3B who transferred from Liberty University, is hitting .286/.370/.472 (.842 OPS) with 38 runs scored, seven home runs and 32 RBIs.
• Daniel Martin is 6^th on the team with five home runs. The Sr. OF owns a slash line of .299/.407/.442 (.849 OPS). He has scored 28 times and driven in 25.
• Limited to 33 games, Josh Walker is finding his groove at the plate. Walker leads the team with 15 doubles and has six home runs, 33 RBIs and 31 runs scored. He is hitting .333/.419/.589 for a 1.008 OPS

 
THE HILL

• Sr. RHP Paxton Miller is 2^nd on the Marauders in innings pitched (48) and strikeouts (43). He owns two wins on the season. 
• Alec Danen owns a 3-4 record in his first season at UMary. The RHP from Sheboygan, WI, transferred to the Marauders from Viterbo University has a 6.85 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP with 44 strikeouts in 47.1 innings.
• Lukas Frers has pitched 49 innings and struck out 44 in his first season at UMary. He has walked just 14 hitters and has one complete game. His string of 10.2 consecutive scoreless innings over two starts was snapped at UMD.
• Ryan Chamberlain has pitched 8.0 innings in his last two starts and 23.0 innings over his last three, all wins for UMary.  

 
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.
 
HANEY NAMED NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK APRIL 29
A big home stand performance by Kalem Haney earned the University of Mary leadoff hitter Northern Sun Baseball Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. Haney led the Marauders to four wins in five games as UMary moved into sixth place in the NSIC standings.
 
A sophomore from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, the second baseman went 10-for-17 with four doubles, two home runs, seven runs scored, 10 RBIs and four stolen bases. His slash line was a dominant .588/.652/1.176 for an OPS of 1.828.
 
Haney had multiple hits in four of five games, including a pair of 3-hit games against Bemidji State University. He was 6-for-7 with three doubles, two home runs, five runs scored and seven RBIs in a doubleheader sweep of the Beavers.
 
In a 3-game set against Southwest Minnesota State Haney was 4-for-8 in final two games against the Mustangs, including a 2-for-3 effort with a double and three RBIs in the third game to help the Marauders clinch the series.
 
Defensively he handled 22 fielding opportunities flawlessly with 12 assists and 10 putouts.
 
This is the third time the Marauders have earned weekly honors from the NSIC. Noah Hull was recognized with player of the week honors and Lukas Frers as the pitcher of the week.
 
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.
 
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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