CLAREMORE, OK - Bryce Leafgren blasted a pair of home runs to lead an extra base barrage for the University of Mary baseball team. The Marauders hit three home runs and three doubles in a 6-4 loss at Rogers State University in the fourth and final game of opening weekend for UMary.
Leafgren hit solo shots in the fourth and seventh innings. The first one by the Marauders All-Northern Sun performer tied the game at 1-1 and the second gave UMary (1-3 overall) a 4-3 lead.
Marcus Butts also homered in the game. His shot in the fourth inning immediately followed Leafgren's leadoff blast and the back-to back home runs gave UMary a 2-1 lead. Rhett Chisholm added a double in the inning but a UMary runner was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from first.
In the sixth inning Mikey Ramirez doubled home Kieran Gaffney to extend the Marauders lead to 3-1. Gaffney reached base when he was hit by a pitch.
After the Hellcats (3-1 overall) rallied to tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Leafgren hit his second home run of the day with two out in the seventh to push the Marauders back in front 4-3.
Rogers State against responded, this time with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to move ahead 6-4. Sammy Harris, who had homered in the previous inning, delivered the big blow in the seventh with a 2-run single.
Kieran hit the Marauders third double of the day with one out in the eighth and Ramirez walked with two outs but both were left stranded. Leadoff hitter Caleb Rico was hit by a pitch to start the ninth inning but UMary was unable to build on the promising start.
Leafgren finished the day 2-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored and two RBIs. He also drew a walk. Gaffney was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Cullen Wilson pitched a strong opening three innings for UMary. The sophomore right-hander allowed one run and one hit.
Chris Compton followed Wilson and pitched two shutout innings. He struck out two, didn't allow a hit and walked one.
Kaden Coldwell pitched a scoreless final inning for UMary.
Harris finished the day 2-for-4 with a home run, the only extra base hit in the game for the Hillcats. He drove in four runs and scored twice.
The Marauders return to action with a pair of Northern Sun neutral site doubleheaders against the University of Sioux Falls on February 21-22 in Saint George, KS.
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