JAMESTOWN, ND – A stellar performance by Arria Johnson helped lead the University of Mary softball team (3-5) to a doubleheader split against Valley City State University. UMary fell 3-2 in game one before coming back to win game two 12-2.
The Marauders return to Jamestown, ND, on Friday, February 20, against Concordia College at 11 am.
GAME 1 VCSU 3 University of Mary 2
The Vikings grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and added another run in the fifth. UMary tied the game in the bottom of the fifth after Lalaina Baker hit a single up the middle to score Daisy Sparrow. Baker then came around to score when Jianna Cota hit an RBI groundout to third.
VCSU broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning to take a 3-2 lead. The Marauders managed to get a runner on with one out in the bottom of the seventh but failed to score, securing a Vikings win.
Jayleen Rojas got the start, pitching five innings and allowing three runs. Elyssa Verploegen pitched two shutout innings in relief. The Marauders recorded five hits and one walk while the Vikings had 12 hits and two walks.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jianna Cota went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Lalaina Baker went 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
Jenel Mallari went 1-for-3.
Kaitlyn McLaughlin went 1-for-4.
GAME 2 University of Mary 12 VCSU 2
Arria Johnson picked up her third win of the season after she pitched her second complete game of the year. Johnson pitched seven innings and allowed two runs while striking out three batters.
The Marauders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never surrendered it. Kaitlyn McLaughlin kicked off the scoring when she reached home on a passed ball. Genevieve Hastings then came around score on an RBI groundout by Madison Schmanski.
McLaughlin extended the UMary lead to 3-0 in the second inning when she smacked a single to center, scoring Jenel Mallari. The Vikings scored a run in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
The Marauders opened the game up in the fifth inning, scoring three runs to increase their lead to 6-1. Olivia Gomez came around to score on a throwing error by the shortstop. Jianna Cota then singled to right field to score Madison Hunter. Following a steal by Cota, Schmanski came home on a throwing error by the catcher.
UMary exploded for six runs in the seventh inning to hold a 12-1 lead. Francesca Villaneda laced a two-run single to right field, scoring Cota and Hastings. Mallari then singled through the right side to score Bree Waldron. Gomez followed up by roping a triple down the right field line, scoring Mallari and Villaneda. McLaughlin capped off the scoring with a RBI single up the middle to bring home Gomez.
VCSU added a run in the seventh, but it would not be enough as Johnson shut the door on the Vikings to give the Marauders a 12-2 win.
The Marauders posted 12 hits and five walks while the Vikings had six hits and two walks.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Kaitlyn McLaughlin went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, one run scored and one steal.
Olivia Gomez went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs, one triple and one walk.
Genevieve Hastings went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, one double and one steal.
Jianna Cota went 2-for-4 with one RBI, one run scored and one steal.
Madison Hunter went 1-for-3 with one double, one walk and one run scored.
Francesca Villaneda went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and one run scored.
Jenel Mallari went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, one RBI and one walk.
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