CLAREMORE, OK – It took a few extra innings but the University of Mary baseball team picked up their first win of the season with a 15 inning 5-1 road victory at Rogers State University. The extra inning win earned the Marauders a doubleheader split with the Hillcats, who claimed the day's opening game 8-0.
GAME 1 | Rogers State 8 UMary 0
A pair of 3-run innings lifted the Hillcats to an 8-0 win in the opening game. After scoring single runs in each of the first and third innings, Rogers State posted three runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings to pick up a second straight win over UMary.
Luke Rhee had two of the Marauders four hits in the game.
Marcus Butts and
Riley Pearce also picked up hits for UMary.
Leadoff hitter Tyler Nelson had two hits and scored three runs for the Hillcats. Dillon Dibrell struck out eight in five scoreless innings for the win.
GAME 2 | UMary 5 RSU 1 (15 innings)
A combined dominant effort on the mound by
Justin Hanson,
Ryan Chamberlain and
Cole Smith kept the Marauders on the precipice of victory deep into extra innings. For 14 innings the trio held the Hillcats to a single run on three hits until UMary pounced on Rogers State for four runs in the 15
th inning.
After Rogers State scored a single run in the first inning on an attempted double steal, Marauders pitchers tossed 14 straight scoreless innings with
Sam Hayen closing the game out with a scoreless 15
th inning.
In his first start for the Marauders, Hanson limited the Hillcats to one run in the first inning and one hit over five innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The Marauders pulled even in the fifth inning when
Mikey Ramirez singled home
Luke Rhee.
Chamberlain took over in the sixth inning and was even more effective, throwing six scoreless innings of relief. The senior retired 18 of the 21 batters he faced, striking out five and allowing just two hits and a walk.
In the ninth and tenth innings the Hillcats managed to put a runner on second base but both times Chamberlain left the runner stranded. He then pitched a perfect 11
th inning.
UMary nearly broke through in the 12
th inning as Rhee reached third with one out but was unable to score.
Smith took over in the 12
th and pitched a perfect inning. He looked to be in trouble in the 13
th inning after the first two Hillcat batters reached on an error and a walk but a popup and a double play ball pushed the game forward.
After threating again in the 14
th inning, UMary finally broke though in the 15
th inning.
Kalem Haney reached base on an error and
Hank Griffin followed with a bunt single.
Isaac Pegors was then intentionally walked to load the bases.
Bryce Leafgren made the Hillcats pay for their decision with a run-scoring single off the RSU pitcher.
After a popout for the first out of the inning,
Cullen Wilson provided some separation with a 2-run single to right. Rhee followed with a single to right center to again load the bases before
Cru Walker scored the fourth run of the inning on a sacrifice fly.
Hayen then came in and slammed the door in the bottom of the 15
th inning. After walking the leadoff hitter, Hayen struck out the next three batters to seal the UMary win.
Smith earned the win with three shutout innings. He didn't allow a hit and walked just one batter. Smith also registered a strikeout.
The Marauders finished with 13 hits to three for the Hillcats. Rhee, Wilson, Leafgren and Haney all had two hits for UMary. Eight of the Marauders nine starters had a hit.
Spencer Hatch allowed one run in five innings for the Hillcats, striking out four. Michael Klein pitched 5.1 innings of shutout relief for Rogers State.
The Marauders (1-2 overall) and the Hillcats (2-1) wrap up their four-game non-conference series with a single 9-inning game on Sunday, February 8. First pitch is set for 1 pm.
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