THIS WEEK
The University of Mary baseball series with #17 Augustana University on Friday and Saturday, April 3-4 will move from Sioux Falls, SD, to Lincoln, NE, due to the anticipated inclement weather expected throughout the Dakotas. The three-game Northern Sun set will be played at the Sandhills Global Complex.
 
Friday's twin bill begins at 2 pm. First pitch for Saturday's single nine inning matchup is set for 1 pm.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Visit www.GoUMary.com/coverage for available links to live video and stats.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 15-12 overall this season and 8-6 in the Northern Sun… The Vikings are 23-6 overall and 16-1 in the NSIC.  
 
HISTORY
Dating back to the 2011 season the Marauders are 4-32 against the Vikings… UMary hosted Augie for four games last season, the Marauders first home games against the Vikings since 2021... The Marauders won the first game of last year's series 2-0 as Aiden John tossed a 7-inning complete game on the way to earning NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors. Augie then won the next three 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 0.648. The next closest team? Florida Southern with an opponent's winning percentage of .644. 
 
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE
The Marauders have played an incredibly challenging difficult schedule this season. Three of the seven 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. This weekend the Marauders take on the #17 Vikings of Augustana.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders have won five of their last seven games. Eight UMary pitchers combined to strike out 12 hitters while holding Minot State University to a 2-0 nonconference road win… UMary claimed three of four games at Winona State. The Marauders swept the opening day twin bill 5-2 and 17-1 as both Lucus Burgum and Aiden Johnson threw 7-inning complete games. The Marauders and eth Warriors then split two games on Sunday with UMary winning the non-conference game 12-11… Remaining on the road, the Marauders split two games at Northern State. Ryan Champberlain threw a complete game in an 11-1 win. The Wolves responded with a 6-5 win in game two.
 
FINISH WHAT YOU START
In the span of five games the Marauders starters threw three complete games. Lucus Burgum allowed two hits and two walks in a 5-2 win at Winona State. Aiden Johnson followed with a 3-hitter the next game in a 11-1 win over the Warriors. Ryan Chamberlain allowed six hits in an 11-1 complete game win at Northern State… Burgum has thrown back-to-back complete games.
 
PICK IT
The Marauders have played stellar defense this season, ranking third in the Northern Sun and 64^th in NCAA D2 with a fielding percentage of .967. UMary has committed just 30 errors on the season in 27 games.
 
STOP THIEF
Teams are refusing to run against UMary backstops Cru Walker and Marcus Butts. Opponents have stolen just 21bases in 31 attempts, a success rate of 67.7% by opposing baserunners. The next lowest percentage in the NSIC? A 70% 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 8.08 hits per nine innings to rank 12^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 9.77 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 six starts, including a 7-inning complete game against SMSU to win NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors and a complete game effort at Winona State.
 
BURGUM ON A RUN
Lucus Burgum has not allowed an earned run for 18 straight innings. In his last two games he hasn't allowed an earned run, including a 5-1 complete game win over Southwest Minnesota State and a 5-2 complete game win at Winona State. He shut out MSU Denver over the final four innings of his six inning start against the Roadrunners… Burgum is 23^rd in the country in complete games with two, 16^th in hits allowed/9 innings (5.91), and 22^nd in WHIP (0.97).
 
NO WALK ZONE
Aiden Johnson and Tyan Chamberlain are among the tops in the nation in allowing walks. Johnson ranks 12 in NCAA D2 in walks allowed/nine innings (1.32) and 20^th in strikeouts/walks (5.50). Chamberlain is 13^th in walks/9 innings (1.36) and 23^rd in strikeouts/walks (5.00)… Johnson has allowed 25 hits and four walks with 22 strikeouts in 27.1 innings… Chamberlain has limited opponents to 34 hits and five walks while striking out 25 in 33 innings.
 
STINGY
Relievers Cole Smith and Jacob Burgess have yet to allow an earned run. In eight games over 13 innings Smith has a 3-1 record and struck out 11, holding opposing batters to seven hits and one earned run. Burgess has pitched 10.2 innings over nine appearances, allowing eight hits and three unearned runs.  
 
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 April 2, 2026, Spencer has 133 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 .423/.553/.577 with a 1.130 OPS. He has scored 23 runs, hit five doubles, two home runs, drove in 12 runs and stole five bases.
• OF Isaac Pegors has driven in 22 runs in 25 games and owns a line of .280/.385/.473 with three doubles and five home runs.
• OF/1B Bryce Leafgren is leading the Marauders power production with 24 RBIs and seven home runs. The senior is batting .292/.434/.596 for a 1.030 OPS. 
• SS Hank Griffin is hitting .311/.422/.444 with four doubles, a triple and 2 home runs. He has scored 17 runs and driven in 14.
• 3B Kieran Gaffney is third on the team with 21 runs scored. The senior is hitting .294/.360/.353 and has 20 RBIs.  
• C/1B Marcus Butts is hitting .338/.427/.465 for a .892 OPS. The sophomore leads UMary with six doubles. He has scored 17 runs and drove in eight.
• Lucas Burgum has gone at least 5.0 innings in all six starts and leads UMary in innings (35), strikeouts (38), WHIP (0.97), and ERA (3.34)
• Aiden Johnson has allowed four walks and struck out 22 in 27.1 innings with a 1.06 WHIP. He ranks 12^th in the nation in walks allowed/nine innings (1.32), 20^th in strikeouts-to-walks ratio (5.50) and 37^th in WHIP (1.06).
• Ryan Chamberlain has a 1.18 WHIP over 33.0 innings with 25 Ks and five walks.
• LHP Justin Hanson has 22 strikeouts in 22 innings. 
• Cole Smith leads the team in wins with three, picking up all three victories in relief. The sophomore has a yet to allow an earned run in 13 innings. He has given up seven hits, walked seven and struck out 11.
• Jacob Burgess owns a 0.00 ERA after 10.2 innings of relief. He has allowed just eight hits with five walks and seven strike outs.

 
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.
 
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.
 
 
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.
 
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.

 
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