THIS WEEK
After a quick stop at home last weekend, the University of Mary baseball team embarks on a 10-game road trip, first visiting Minot State University for a single non-conference contest on Wednesday, March 25. The first pitch between the Highway 83 rivals is set for 1:30 pm at Corbett Field in Minot, ND.
 
The Marauders then return to Northern Sun action with a quartet of games at Winona State University on Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29, in Winona, MN. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1:30 pm with Sunday starting at 12 noon. The first three games between the Marauders and the Warriors are Northern Sun contests. The fourth game is a non-conference meeting.  
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Visit www.GoUMary.com/coverage for available links to live video and stats.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 10-10 overall this season and 5-4 in the Northern Sun… The Beavers are 9-12 overall and 4-8 in the NSIC… The Warriors are 10-11 and 5-4 in the NSIC.   
 
HISTORY
Since the 2013 season, the Marauders are 10-25 against the Beavers. Over the last nine games UMary 5-4 against Minot State. The two teams split a doubleheader last year with the Marauders winning the last game 7-7 on a walk-off single by Isaac Pegors in the 11^th inning after overcoming a 6-1 deficit…  Since the 2010 season the Marauders are 14-29 against the Warriors. UMary claimed three of four games with Winona State last season. The Marauders outscored the Warriors 24-13 over the four games. UMary has won four of the last five games.
 
MARAUDERS TOP NCAA TOUGHEST SCHEDULE RANKINGS
UMary has played the most difficult schedule in NCAA Division II this season. The NCAA Toughest Schedule Report lists the Marauders past opposition with a winning percentage of 0.724. The next closest team? Florida Southern with an opponent's winning percentage of .664.  
 
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE
The Marauders have played an incredibly challenging difficult schedule this season. Three of the five teams UMary has faced have received national recognition this season… Opening weekend foe Rogers State University currently 15^th in the ABCA poll. Minnesota State was ranked #9 when the Marauders played the Mavericks and are now #26 in the ABCA rankings. Metropolitan State University of Denver was ranked as high at #18 this season and are receiving votes. Additionally Sioux Falls was picked to finish 5^th in the NSIC in the preseason poll and is 4^th in the NSIC standings while Southwest Minnesota State University came into last weekend's series with a 13-7 record. The Marauders five opponents this season have a combined record of 82-37.
 
LAST TIME OUT
For the first time in program history, UMary swept a weekend series from Southwest Minnesota State University. The two teams started playing in 2007. UMary swept a doubleheader on Friday by identical 5-1 scores. Lucas Burgum threw a 7-inning complete game in the opener, giving up two hits and one unearned run with six strikeouts. Kieran Gaffney  drove in three runs and scored once… In game two Aiden Johnson held the Mustangs to one run and four hits in seven innings, striking out six without walking a batter… Justin Hanson allowed two runs and struck out seven in a 6-2 win in the opener on Saturday. Ryan Chamberlain closed out the game with four scoreless innings, allowing one run and one hit to pick up a save… UMary closed out the weekend with a 7-5 win. Andrew Linn was 3-for-3 and drove in three runs. Freshman Tristan Eberle pitched three shutout innings for UMary to start the game, striking out five and allowing just one hit.
 
PICK IT
The Marauders have played stellar defense this season, ranking first in the Northern Sun and 60^th in NCAA D2 with a fielding percentage of .968. UMary has committed just 22 errors on the season in 20 games.
 
STOP THIEF
Teams are refusing to run against UMary backstops Cru Walker and Marcus Butts. Opponents have stolen just 12 bases in 22 attempts, a success rate of 54.5% by opposing baserunners. The next lowest percentage in the NSIC? A 70.2% success rate against Minnesota Crookston. Walker has been especially excellent at throwing out runners. The Bismarck, ND, native has gunned down seven of 13 runners attempting to steal when Walker has been behind the plate.
 
HARD TO HIT
The Marauders pitching staff allows just 8.31 hits per nine innings to rank 20^th in fewest hits allowed/nine in NCAA D2 and the 3^rd fewest hits allowed in the NSIC. 
 
PUNCHOUT
Lucas Burgum is racking up the strikeouts this season. The junior righthander is striking out 10 batters per nine innings. Burgum fanned eight in 5.0 innings at Rogers State and nine in 5.0 innings against Sioux Falls. The Mandan, ND, native has gone at least 5.0 innings in all five starts, including a 7-inning complete game against SMSU to win NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors.
 
BURGUM NAMED NSIC PITCHER OF THE WEEK FOR EFFORT AGAINST MUSTANGS
A complete game effort by Lucas Burgum in a 5-1 win over visiting Southwest Minesota State University earned the junior righthander NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors. Making his first career home start for UMary, Burgum limited SMSU to two hits, a walk and an unearned run over seven innings. The Mandan, ND, native struck out six hitters and allowed just five baserunners. After SMSU took advantage of a pair off UMary errors to score an unearned run in the first inning, Burgum closed out the win by throwing six scoreless innings. Only one bitter reached base over the last four innings… This is the second time the Marauders have claimed NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors as Ryan Chamberlain for his efforts on the opening week of the season.
 
SPENCER TAKES OVER ALL-TIME WINS LEAD AT UMARY
UMary head coach Tanner Spencer became the all-time winningest coach in Marauders baseball history in a doubleheader sweep of #9 Minnesota State University on February 28. Tied with Steve Legrand (121 wins from 1997-2001) entering the Northern Sun doubleheader, a pair of wins pushed Spencer to the top of the all-time wins list with 123 victories. Spencer took over the Marauders program prior to the 2020 season and is in his seventh season at UMary. Through March 24, 2026, Spencer has 128 wins at UMary.
 
Spencer has directed the Marauders to at least 20 wins in each of the previous five seasons. UMary never had a 20-win season in NCAA play until 2021. The Marauders tied their NCAA high for wins last season with 24 while setting a new high for NSIC wins with 20.
 
LEADERS

• Leadoff hitter Kalem Haney is having another tremendous season. Climbing towards the top of the career leader boards in hits, doubles and runs scored, the senior 2B is hitting .392/.536/.608 with a 1.144 OPS. He has scored 16 runs, hit five doubles, two home runs, drove in ten and stole four bases.
• OF Isaac Pegors has driven in 17 runs in 18 games and owns a line of ..258/.372/.455 with a double and four home runs.
• OF/1B Bryce Leafgren is leading the Marauders power production with 17 RBIs and five home runs. The senior is batting .262/.395/.538 for a 933 OPS. 
• SS Hank Griffin is hitting .288/.377/.470 with four doubles, a triple and 2 home runs. He has scored 12 runs and driven in seven.
• 3B Kieran Gaffney is second on the team with 13 runs scored. The senior is hitting .297/.356/.359 and has 13 RBIs.   
• Lucas Burgum has gone at least 5.0 innings in all five starts and leads UMary in innings (28), strikeouts (31), WHIP (1.07), and ERA (4.18)
• Aiden Johnson has allowed three walks and struck out 17 in 20.1 innings with a 1.23 WHIP. He ranks 13^th in the nation in walks allowed/nine innings (1.33) and is 23^rd in strikeouts-to-walks ratio (5.67).
• Ryan Chamberlain has a 1.26 WHIP over 23.0 innings with 18 Ks and five walks.
• LHP Justin Hanson has 19 strikeouts in 19 innings.  
• Cole Smith leads the team in wins with three, picking up all three victories in relief. The sophomore has a yet to allow a run in 8.1 innings. He has given up four hits, walked six and struck out six.
• Jacob Burgess owns a 0.00 ERA after 6.1 innings of relief. He has allowed just four hits with two walks and struck out five.

 
CHAMBERLAIN NAMED NSIC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
A lockdown performance by Ryan Chamberlain on opening weekend earned the Marauders senior righthander Northern Sun Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time in his career. Chamberlain pitched six shutout innings of relief in the Marauders 15-inning 5-1 win at Rogers State University. Entering the game in the sixth inning with the game tied 1-1, the Laramie, WY, native limited the Hillcats to two hits and a walk as he retired 18 of the 21 batters he faced. Chamberlain stuck out five as he allowed only two baserunners to reach as far a second base… This is the second time Chamberlain has earned NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors. He was previously honored March 17, 2025, after throwing a 9-inning complete game shutout in an 8-0 win at Concordia-St. Paul. He also won regional and national honors for his effort against the Golden Bears.
 
WELCOME BACK FOR 2026

• The Marauders return 24 players who saw action for UMary last season, including 13 pitchers and 12 position players (So. RHP Cullen Wilson appears in both counts as he also played in the field)
• Eight every day regulars are back for the Marauders, including 11 of the team's top 13 in total at bats from 2025
• Nine returners started at least 19 games in the field last year and six made 37 or more starts
• On the mound 13 of the Marauders 20 pitchers who saw action last season remain on the squad, including pitchers who made 33 of UMary's 51 starts
• The Marauders return three All-NSIC Players: OF Isaac Pegors (1^st team 2025), OF/1B Bryce Leafgren (2^nd team 2025) and MI Kalem Haney (1^st team 2025)
• Haney is a 4-year starter in the middle infield for UMary with a lifetime slash line of .316/.42/.482
• Senior Bryce Leafgren slashed .344/.468/.620 with 11 home runs in his first season as a starter in 2025
• Senior Kieran Gaffney returns after starting all 51 games last season at 3B in his first season at UMary
• Senior Hank Griffin started 48 games last season and is back to play shortstop
• Senior Luke Rhee is back for a second season at UMary after starting 37 games for the Marauders
• Senior Cru Walker (27 starts) and sophomore Marcus Butts (25 starts) will tag-team catcher again for UMary
• Aiden Johnson (2) and Ryan Chamberlain (1) combined to throw all three of the Marauders complete games and shutouts last year. They threw a combined 122 innings and both made 12 starts to lead the UMary pitching staff.
• Sam Hayen returns after posting seven saves and two wins

 
PEGORS NAMED NSIC PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR, D2BASEBALL AND NCBWA PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Isaac Pegors, the reigning conference player of the year, is the 2026 Northern Sun Baseball Preseason Player of the Year. The Marauders All-American becomes the first UMary baseball scholar-athlete to earn NSIC preseason player of the year accolades. Pegors also earned 2026 Preseason All-American honors from D2Baseball and NCBWA.
 
Pegors broke school records with 18 home runs and 65 runs batted in during the 2025 season. In 47 games the Bismarck, ND, native led the NSIC in slugging percentage (.795) and OPS (1.287). He hit .398 with 10 doubles and scored 42 runs.
 
The first UMary player to earn NSIC Player of the Year honors, Pegors was selected as a 3rd team All-American by both D2CCA and NCBWA to become the Marauders first NCAA All-American and the second All-American overall in program history. The Legacy High School product also received All-Region honors from CCA, ABCA/Rawlings and NCBWA and was selected to the All-NSIC first team.
 
Additionally Pegors is the first UMary baseball player named to the Academic All-America first team as selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC).
 
JOHNSON SELECTED UMARY PITCHER TO WATCH FOR NSIC
After an impressive first year at UMary in 2025, Aiden Johnson is back for his senior season to again headline the Marauders rotation. The 6-foot-6 right hander from Westminster, CO, pitched two complete game shutouts last season, including a 2-0 shutout of defending champion Augustana to win NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors. Johnson finished the season 5-4 with a 4.62 ERA in 12 starts covering 62.1 innings. He struck out 44 and walked just 17 to post a 1.36 WHIP.
 
UMARY PICKED TO FINISH 7^th IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
The Marauders are projected to finish in seventh place in the 2026 NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll, which would once again qualify the team for postseason play. UMary has earned a berth in the Northern Sun tournament the last two seasons and four of the last five.
 
2025 SEASON REWIND BY THE NUMBERS
24 - UMary tied the NCAA program record for wins in a season with 24, matching the Marauders previous best mark from 2022
 
20 - The Marauders set a program record for single season Northern Sun win with 20, surpassing the previous high of 19 set last season (2024).
 
20-20-20-20-20 – UMary has won at least 20 games in each of the last five seasons, all under the direction of head coach Tanner Spencer. The Marauders never had a 20-win season in NCAA play until 2021.
 
18 + 65 - Isaac Pegors set Marauders programs records with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs in 2025. ns and runs batted in. He broke the old record of Derek Shoen (14 home runs in 2022) and Josh Walker (54 RBIs in 2023).
 
206 + 153 – 2x All-NSIC performer Noah Hull broke the school records for career hits (206) and career RBIs (153). The previous records were 198 hits by Cal James and 141 RBIs by Jeff Wedul and Tyler Liffrig.
 
$2.2 million – Artificial turf made its debut at Municipal Ballpark last season, part of a $2.2 million renovation to UMary's home field.
 
26 + 26 + 8 + 7 + 5 – UMary set a school record for most RBIs (26) and hits (26) in a 26-22 win at Missouri Western while tying the record for runs scored… Rhett Chisholm drove in a school record eight runs… Carter Shin set the team NCAA single game record by reaching base safely seven times (3 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit by pitch)… Bryce Leafgren tied team NCAA single game record with five hits (7th time in team history, last done by Josh Walker vs. Sioux Falls in 2024).
 
5 - Krece Papierski (at SMSU) and Bryce Leafgren (at Missouri Western) both tied the school NCAA record with five hits in a game.
 
2025 WEEKLY HONORS

• Ryan Chamberlain was the NSIC and the NCBWA Central Region and National Pitcher of the week after striking out ten in a 9-inning shutout of CSP. He allowed three hits and no walks in an 8-0 win.
• Aiden Johnson was the NSIC Pitcher of the Week in 2-0 complete game win over Augie.
•  OF Isaac Pegors bashed his way to Northern Sun Baseball Player of the Week honors while breaking a pair of Marauders season records in the process. In the span of four games last week, Pegors blasted four home runs, drove in ten runs and scored nine times as the Marauders won four out of five games and moved into sixth place in the NSIC standings. The sophomore from Bismarck, ND, went 9-for-15 with a slash line of .467/.600/1.267 and an OPS of 1.867.

 
ISAAC PEGORS HONOR ROLL 2025

• 2025 Academic All-America® NCAA Division II baseball first team as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).
• 2025 Northern Sun Player of the Year
• 2025 D2CCA All-American 3rd team outfielder
• 2025 NCBWA All-American 3rd team outfielder
• 2025 ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region 1st team outfielder
• 2025 NCBWA All-Central Region 1st team outfielder
• 2025 D2CCA All-Central Region 1st team outfielder
• 2025 All-NSIC 1st team outfielder
• NCBWA Central Region Player of the Week
• NSIC Player of the Week (1)
• UMary single season home run record (18)
• UMary single season runs batted in record (65)

 
LEAFGREN ALL-NSIC 2^nd TEAM
Bryce Leafgren earned All-Northern Sun 2^nd team honors in 2025 after a breakout campaign during his junior season. He hit .342 while smashing 10 home runs. The Eaton, CO, native posted a .624 slugging percentage and a .482 on-base percentage to give him an OPS of 1.106. Leafgren ranked 6^th in the NSIC in OPS, 7^th in on-base percentage, 9^th in slugging percentage and 10^th in home runs.
 
BASEBALL TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
Tickets for University of Mary baseball home games are now available for purchase online at www.UMaryTickets.com and via the HomeTown Fan App for iOS and Android mobile devices.
 
Baseball tickets are also available at the gate. Fans who purchase tickets online at www.UMaryTickets.com and on the HomeTown Fan App receive a discount over tickets purchased at the gate.
 
UMary students and faculty and staff with their MCard are admitted FREE.
 
Additionally children ages 12 and younger with an adult are admitted FREE. If children 12 and under unaccompanied by an adult the admission fee is $5 cash or $5 + fees with credit card.
 
Baseball Ticket Prices – Online

• Adult tickets $10 plus fees
• Seniors and Youth (ages 13-18) $5 plus fees
• Children 12 and under are FREE when accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied children ticket prices are $5 plus fees

 
Baseball Ticket Prices – At the gate

• Adult tickets $15 cash | $15 + fees with credit card
• Seniors and Youth (aged 13-18) $10 cash | $10 + fees with credit card
• Children 12 and under are FREE when accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied children ticket prices are $5 cash | $5 + fees with credit card.
• Both cash and credit card payments will be accepted at the UMary ticket gate.

 
#marauders#