BISMARCK, ND – Continuing their charge up the conference leader board, the University of Mary baseball team swept a Northern Sun doubleheader from visiting University of Minnesota Crookston. The Marauders cashed in an early lead for a 5-3 win over the Golden Eagles in the opener before running away with game two 13-6.
 
The two teams entered the day tied for fifth place in the NSIC. By the end of the night cap the Marauders had jumped into third place. UMary is 23-14 overall and 16-8 in in the NSIC. UMC is 21-15 and 14-10.
 
The Marauders are on a heater with 17 wins in their last 20 games, including wins in 16-of-19 NSIC games.
 
UMary remains at home for three more games when the University of Minnesota Duluth visits Municipal Ballpark on Sunday and Monday, April 19-20.
 
Sunday's doubleheader between the Marauders and the Bulldogs starts at 1:30 pm. Sunday is Marauders Baseball Alumni Day and Bismarck Youth Baseball Day. Additionally the Bismarck Larks are providing the in-game festivities and Buffalo Wild Wings is sponsoring a pregame tailgate at 12 noon.
 
Monday's single game is an 11 am start.
 
GAME 1: UMary 5 UMC 3
Taking full advantage of a fast start by the Marauders offense, two-time Northern Sun Pitcher of the Week Ryan Chamberlain struck out a season-high eight batters while throwing a complete game victory.
 
Isaac Pegors provided the early rocket fuel with a 2-run home run over the left field wall in the first inning to score Kalem Haney.
 
Bryce Leafgren did Pegors one better in the third, launching a 3-run home run over the left field wall to score both Pegors and Haney for a 5-0 lead.
 
That was more than enough support for Chamberlain, who worked out of danger in the fourth and fifth innings before closing strong. After UMC led off the fourth inning with a double and a home run, Chamberlain struck out two and finished the inning by inducing a ground ball to third. In the fourth after allowing one run and loading the bases, Chamberlain stuck out Jackson Fliflet to strand a trifecta of Golden Eagles baserunners.
 
Chamberlain then retired the Golden Eagles in order in each of the last two innings, setting down six straight hitters for his second complete game of the year.
 
The Laramie, WY, native allowed just six hits, two walks and three runs in seven innings and improved his season record to 3-1.
 
The Golden Eagles had no answer for Leafgren, who finished the game 3-for-3 with a double and a home run. He scored once and drove in three runs. Pegors homered, scored twice and drove in two runs. Haney was a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and a walk. He also scored twice.
 
Aaron Wensloff led the UMC offense with three RBIs, hitting a home run and delivering a sacrifice fly.
 
GAME 2: UMary 13 UMC 6
The University of Mary turned game two over to its offense and the Marauders hitters delivered. UMary pounded out 11 hits, including four for extra bases, as the Marauders reached double digits in hits for the fifth time in six games. Eight different Marauders had hits with three contributing a pair.
 
With redshirt freshman Michael Fagerland making the start for UMary, the Golden Eagles posted a pair of runs in both the first and third innings. Both third inning runs were unearned as a UMary error with two outs precipitated the UMC runs.
 
UMary roared back in the third, scoring four times with two outs. Kalem Haney opened the scoring with a single to right to plate Luke Rhee. Hudsen Sheldon, pinch-running for Haney, then scored from third on a Marcus Butts single to right. After Isaac Pegors reached when he was hit by a pitch, both runners moved up a bag on a wild pitch before a Bryce Leafgren single to right center scored the pair to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Following a perfect fourth inning by Fagerland to close out his day, the Marauders claimed a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the inning when Sheldon doubled down the left field line to score Cru Walker. Taking advantage of three UMC errors in the fifth, the Marauders scored twice to grow their lead to 7-4.
 
UMC scored a single run in the top of the sixth before UMary put the game out of reach in the home half if the inning. Behind six hits and three errors, the Marauders scored six times to claim a 13-5 lead. A triple down the right field line by Sheldon scored the opening run of the inning with a 2-run Isaac Pegors home run headlining the production.
 
Butts finished 2-for-4, scoring two runs and driving in two. Shelon delivered a double and triple, walked, scored twice and drove in a run. Leafgren had a double among two hits, scored twice and drove in two. Pegors scored twice, drove in two runs, and is now tied with Leafgren for the team home run lead with ten. Rhee also drove in two runs.
 
Fagerland allowed just three hits in four innings, striking out two and allowing just two earned runs. Jacob Burgess and Brody Wrench and Grant Pednaud all pitched a scoreless inning with Wrench striking out three.
 
Cole Hebl led UMC with two runs. He scored once and drove in two.   
 
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