MINOT, ND – A tremendous comeback would see the University of Mary softball team earn a split in a doubleheader against Montana State University Billings. The Marauders won game one 17-16 after trailing by 11 runs in the first inning. UMary nearly pulled off a second comeback in game two but fell 9-8.
The Marauders head to Jamestown, ND, to compete against Northern State University on Friday, February 31, at 9 am.
GAME 1 University of Mary 17 MSU Billings 16
The Yellowjackets came out on fire, scoring 11 runs in the top of the first inning. The Marauders showed grit, scoring nine unanswered runs over the next three innings to make it an 11-9 ball game. Olivia Gomez got the Marauders on the board in the bottom of the first when she scored on a throwing error by the center fielder.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Jenel Mallari smacked a single through the left side to bring home Ariana Retuta. After the Marauders loaded the bases, Madison Hunter drew a walk to score Mallari. Bree Waldron then hit a single up the middle, scoring Kaitlyn McLaughlin and Gomez. Genevieve Hastings kept the line moving, hitting a single to left field to score Hunter.
Cassidy Bagnell kicked open the scoring in the bottom of the third inning off an error committed by the catcher. McLaughlin followed up by roping a double to left-center field to bring home Mallari. Hunter scored the Marauders ninth run of the game when she singled up the middle to score McLaughlin.
BHSU made the score 12-9 after recording an RBI single to center in the top of the fourth inning. UMary responded in the bottom of the fourth when McLaughlin beat out an infield single to third to bring home Ariane Sims. The Yellowjackets increased their lead to 15-10 after smashing two home runs in the fifth inning.
The Marauders continued to battle, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ariana Retuta came around to score after Francesca Villaneda singled to the pitcher. Gomez followed up with a single through the left side to score Mallari. Hunter then roped a double to right field, scoring Gomez and McLaughlin.
MSUB added a run in the top of the seventh inning to give them a 16-14 lead. UMary recorded three straight hits to start the bottom of the seventh, capped off by a Janelle Bergman base hit to left that brought home Hastings. With the bases loaded and two out, Gomez beat out an infield single to third base that tied the game. Hunter came up next and drew her second bases-loaded walk of the game as the winning run of Mallari would come home to score.
Arria Johnson picked up her second win of the season. Johnson pitched 3.1 innings and allowed four runs while striking out two batters.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Olivia Gomez went 4-for-6 with three runs scored.
Kaitlyn McLaughlin went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, two RBIs, one double and one walk.
Francesca Villaneda went 3-for-4 with one walk, one RBI and one run scored.
Ariana Retuta went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one steal.
Madison Hunter went 2-for-3 with 5 RBIs, three walks, one double and one run scored.
Bree Waldron went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and one double.
Genevieve Hastings went 2-for-5 with one double, one RBI and one run scored.
Jenel Mallari went 1-for-4 with four runs scored, one RBI and one walk.
GAME 2 MSU Billings 9 University of Mary 8
Two RBI singles by Bree Waldron in the first and third innings gave UMary a 2-0 lead. After pitching three scoreless innings, Elyssa Verploegen ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Yellowjackets scored six runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to take a 9-2 lead.
Genevieve Hastings got the Marauders back on track in the top of the sixth inning when she blasted a two-run homer over the center field wall. Hastings has now hit two home runs on the season, matching her season-high from last year.
The Marauders continued to show heart, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Madison Hunter smacked a single up the middle to bring home Jenel Mallari. Hastings then roped a single to left field, scoring Olivia Gomez and Hunter. Ariana Retuta kept the line going when she lifted a single to right center to score Waldron and make it a 9-8 ballgame. With two runners on and one out, the Marauders put the ball in play twice but failed to score.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Genevieve Hastings went 2-for-4 with one HR, four RBIs and one run scored.
Bree Waldron went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored and one walk.
Kaitlyn McLaughlin went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one steal.
Olivia Gomez went 1-for-3 with one run scored and one walk.
Jenel Mallari went 1-for-2 with one run scored and one walk.
Madison Hunter went 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Ariana Retuta went 1-for-4 with one RBI.
Daisy Sparrow went 1-for-3 with one walk.
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