MINOT, ND – Two heartbreaking walk-off losses would sink the University of Mary softball team (10-24, 0-12 Northern Sun) against Bemidji State University (8-27, 2-10 NSIC) 7-4, 3-2 at the Minot Air-Supported Dome.
The Marauders will head back to Minot, ND, to compete against Minot State University in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 7, at 1 pm.
GAME 1 University of Mary 4 BSU 7
BSU grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Daisy Sparrow tied the game up in the top of the second inning when she smacked a double to right-center field, scoring Jianna Cota.
Cota would then give UMary a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning when she hit a two-out double to right-center, bringing home Ariana Retuta and Janel Mallari. A two-run homer by the Beavers in the bottom of the third would even the score at three apiece.
The Marauders would take back the lead in the fifth inning after Olivia Gomez scored on a throwing error committed by the BSU shortstop. The lead would again only last a half inning as the Beavers scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.
UMary struggled to get runners on in the final two innings, going 0-for-6. Morgan Benedict would then hit a walk-off three-run homer to win the game for BSU.
Elyssa Verploegen pitched two innings of relief and allowed one run, while striking out three batters. The Marauders finished the game with eight hits and no walks, while the Beavers had 13 hits and four walks.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jianna Cota went 2-for-3 with one double, one RBI, and one run scored.
Daisy Sparrow went 1-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
Francesca Villaneda went 2-for-3.
Jenel Mallari went 1-for-3 with one run scored.
Ariana Retuta went 1-for-3 with one run scored.
Cassidy Bagnell went 1-for-2.
GAME 2 University of Mary 2 BSU 3
The Marauders jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Jenel Mallari scored on a Daisy Sparrow sac fly to center. The Beavers would score one run in the bottom of the third to make it a 1-1 ballgame.
Daisy Sparrow hit her second home run of the season when she smashed the ball over the left field wall in the fourth inning, giving Sparrow her third RBI of the day. The UMary lead did not last as BSU grabbed a run in the bottom of the fourth to even the score.
Both teams had opportunities to score in the fifth and sixth innings, but neither team managed to do so. Following a lead-off triple for the Beavers in the seventh inning, Alayna DeGraef delivered the game-winning hit to earn BSU the 3-2 win.
Jayleen Rojas pitched the entire game and allowed three runs, while striking out five batters. The Marauders posted six hits and two walks, while the Beavers had ten hits and one walk.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Daisy Sparrow went 1-for-2 with one home run, two RBIs, and one run scored.
Jenel Mallari went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Jianna Cota went 1-for-2 with one walk.
Lalaina Baker went 1-for-3.
Genevieve Hastings went 1-for-3.
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