SIOUX FALLS, SD –
Bryce Leafgren delivered the game-winning blow with a 2-run eighth-inning double as the University of Mary rallied for a 4-2 game two victory and a weekend series win over Winona State University.
After sweeping a doubleheader on Friday, the Marauders dropped Saturday's opening game 3-2 before winning the nightcap and claiming three out of the four games in the Northern Sun series against the Warriors.
This is the first time the Marauders have won a 3- or 4-game series against the Warriors since joining the Northern Sun in 2007. The only other series win was a doubleheader sweep of Winona State in 2019.
UMary improves to 11-10 on the season and 7-5 in the Northern Sun after winning seven of its last eight games. Winona State is 9-10 and 6-6.
GAME 1: Winona State University 3 University of Mary 2
A trio of University of Mary pitchers limited Winona State University to just a pair of hits but the Warriors scratched out three runs to end the Marauders 6-game win streak.
Making a second start after four relief outing to start the season, UMary's
Jeff Tiw gave up just one hit and one walk in four innings. He was tagged for a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning as the Warriors scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch.
With Winona State starter Boyd Skelley holding UMary's attack in check with 5.2 shutout innings, the Marauders finally broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning. Down to their last three outs,
Luke Rhee led off with a walk and took third on a double to center by
Hank Griffin. Ground outs by
Kalem Haney and
Kieran Gaffney scored Rhee and Haney to pull the Marauders even at 2-2.
A 1-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning by Josh Gullickson was followed by Ryland Wall reaching on a fielder's choice and a walk to Adam Wall.
Cole Smith entered the game with the bases loaded for the Marauders and struck out the first batter he faced for the second out. A walk to Joshua Hawksford followed, forcing home the winning run for Winona State.
Jacob Burgess was strong in relief for the Marauders, limiting the Warriors to one hit and one walk while striking out two in 2.1 innings of work.
Isaac Pegors, who homered in each game on Friday, was 2-for-3 with a double to generate half the Marauders hit total in the game.
GAME 2: Marauders 4 Warriors 2
The Marauders rallied late to return to the win column with a 4-2 victory over the Warriors to give UMary a series win. UMary scored the last three runs of the game to pull out the win.
Taking advantage of a pair of passed balls by the Warriors,
Kalem Haney scored in the first inning to provide the Marauders an early lead. A 2-run double in the third by Ben Hefel pushed the Warriors in front 2-1.
Unable to gain any more traction against the Warriors pitching through the sixth inning, the Marauders finally tied the game in the seventh when
Marcus Butts singled home
Isaac Pegors.
With one out in the eighth,
Noah Hull singled and moved to second on a walk to Pegors. Leafgren followed with a double to left to plate both runners for a 4-2 UMary lead.
Ryan Faccini and
Riley Pearce made the two-run advantage hold up. Faccini, who entered the game in the seventh, pitched two scoreless innings for UMary to earn the win. The junior from Burlington, Ontario, struck out two and walked one batter.
Pearce closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out the leadoff hitter before giving up a single and a walk. The junior from Lethbridge, Alberta, then struck out another hitter before inducing a ground out to earn his first save at UMary.
Cullen Wilson was also stellar in relief for UMary. He spun 3.1 scoreless innings, limiting the Warriors to two hits. Wilson struck out four and walked four.
Wesley Johnson struck out seven batters for the Warriors, holding UMary to one earned run on five hits in 6.2 innings.
NEXT UP
The Marauders make their home debut when UMary hosts Wayne State College in a four-game series Friday through Sunday March 28-30.
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