BISMARCK, ND – A walk-off RBI single by Jianna Cota helped propel the University of Mary softball team (12-28, 2-16 Northern Sun) to a series split against Minnesota State University Moorhead (5-34, 3-13 NSIC). UMary won game one 2-1 and lost 13-10 in game two.
The Marauders next host Northern State University at the UMary Softball Field on Friday, April 12, at 1 pm.
GAME 1 University of Mary 2 MSUM 1
It was an excellent combined effort by the Marauders pitchers in game one as the trio of Jayleen Rojas, Camryn Fuessel, and Arria Johnson allowed only one run and struck out four batters over seven innings.
The one run the Dragons scored came in the top of the fourth inning to give MSUM a 1-0 lead. UMary tied it up in the bottom of the fourth when Lalaina Baker hit a fly ball past the second baseman to bring home Daisy Sparrow.
Jianna Cota stepped up big when her team needed her in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Marauders had two runners on and two outs, and the true freshman responded by lacing a single up the middle to score Cassidy Bagnell and win the game.
Jayleen Rojas got the start and went three innings, allowing no runs and no hits. Arria Johnson got her team-leading seventh win. Johnson threw two innings and allowed no runs.
The Marauders finished the game with eight hits and four walks, while the Dragons had four hits and three walks.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jianna Cota went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Kaitlyn McLaughlin went 2-for-3.
Jenel Mallari went 2-for-4.
Ariana Retuta went 1-for-2 with one double.
Lalaina Baker went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
GAME 2 University of Mary 10 MSUM 13
Game two opened the same way game one ended as Jianna Cota singled up the middle in the bottom of the first inning to bring home Kaitlyn McLaughlin and give UMary a 1-0 lead. Janelle Bergmann would add on to the Marauders lead in the second inning after she smacked a double to left-center field, scoring Bree Waldron and Lalaina Baker.
The Dragons would take the lead in the top of the third inning when Sami Macchiaroli hit a grand slam.
The Marauders would regain the lead right back, adding four runs of their own in the bottom of the third to take a 7-4 lead. Bergmann hit her second double of the day with the bases loaded to drive home three runs. Jenel Mallari would draw a bases-loaded walk to score Bergmann.
The UMary lead would not last as MSUM recorded five runs in the fifth inning to take a 9-7 lead. The Dragons added four more runs in the seventh to hold a 13-7 advantage.
The Marauders did not go down without a fight as Genevive Hastings blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall. Hastings leads UMary in home runs with four. UMary could not add any more runs and fell 13-10.
The Marauders posted 12 hits and one walk, while the Dragons had 15 hits and one walk.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Genevieve Hastings went 1-for-1 with one home run, three RBIs, and one run scored.
Janelle Bergmann went 3-for-4 with two doubles, five RBIs, and two runs scored.
Bree Waldron went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and one double.
Jianna Cota went 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Cassidy Bagnell went 1-for-1 with one double.
Daisy Sparrow went 1-for-4 with one run scored.
Kaitlyn McLaughlin went 1-for-5.
Ariana Retuta went 1-for-4.
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