LINCOLN, NE – Continuing to make noise on a national level, the University of Mary captured a series win over the #14 Augustana University for the first time in program history. After the two teams split a pair of contests on Friday, the Marauders claimed the rubber game on Saturday with a 7-3 win.
The Marauders own six wins this season over teams nationally ranked at game time or during the season, including two over both #9 Minnesota State University and #14 Augie. UMary also has wins over Rogers State University (currently #15 in the ABCA poll) and Metropolitan State University of Denver (ranked as high at #18).
Entering this weekend UMary had a record of 4-36 against Augustana, dating back to the 2007 season. The Marauders had never won more than one game in a series against the Vikings.
For the second time in three days the Marauders pitching staff held a potent Vikings attack in check. Augustana, the top scoring team in the Northern Sun, was twice limited to two runs in a game by the Marauders, including UMary's 3-2 win in the series opener.
UMary's
Justin Hanson and Augie's Drew Bell were locked into a scoreless pitcher's duel through five innings on Saturday, though both teams had opportunities to score.
In the third inning Augie loaded the bases but Hanson induced a double play grounder to third baseman
Kieran Gaffney to end the threat. The Vikings left two more on base in the fourth and one more in the fifth. UMary stranded two in the fourth and were unable to take advantage of a
Cru Walker one-out double in the fifth.
UMary broke through in the sixth.
Marcus Butts, who delivered a game-winning home run in the ninth inning of the series opener, led off the inning with a single. One out later
Bryce Leafgren was hit by a pitch. Two wild pitches later Butts scored the first run of the game.
Hank Griffin followed with a double to left center to easily score Leafgren from third base for a 2-0 UMary lead.
Augie threatened again in the bottom of the sixth. After a pair of walks,
Ryan Chamberlain relieved Hanson with one out. Chamberlain quickly extinguished the Vikings threat by striking out the first two batters he faced.
The Marauders broke open the game in the seventh with a 5-run outburst. A bases loaded walk to
Isaac Pegors scored the first run of the inning. Leafgren followed with a 2-run single before a sacrifice fly by Griffin pushed the Marauders advantage to 6-0. Walker was later hit by a pitch with the bases juiced to force home the Marauders seventh run of the day.
Chamberlain, who pitched a complete game Tuesday in the Marauders 11-1 win at Northern State, was touched for two runs in the bottom of the seventh before holding the Vikings scoreless in the final two innings of the game.
Hanson picked up the win after pitching 5.1 scoreless innings. The lefthander limited the Vikings to three hits while striking out six. He also walked six batters.
Chamberlain earned his second save of the season. He limited the Vikings to two runs in 3.2 innings while striking out three and walking one.
Leafgren finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. He was also hit by a pitch.
Griffin went 2-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice fly to drive in two runs. The Marauders shortstop was one of five UMary hitters to reach base after being struck by a pitch.
Ball limited UMary to two runs on five hits and a walk in 5.1 innings. Troy Berg finished with two hits for the Vikings, including a 2-run home run.
The Marauders improve to 17-13 overall and 10-7 in the Northern Sun. The Vikings are 24-8 overall and lead the NSIC with a record of 17-3.
UMary is next slated to host Highway 83 rival Minot State University in an NSIC doubleheader on Wednesday, April 8. First pitch is set for 1:30 pm. The Marauders then visit Wayne State College on April 11-12 for three NSIC games.
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