THIS WEEK
After playing their last ten games on the road, the University of Mary baseball team returns home to face Minot State University in a Northern Sun doubleheader on April 9, 2026. First pitch in the Highway 83 rivalry games is slated for 1:30 pm at Municipal Ballpark in Bismarck, ND.
 
(NOTE: The Marauders/Beavers doubleheader was pushed back one day due to expected weather conditions from the originally-scheduled date of April 8.)
 
UMary returns to the road for a 3-game NSIC set at Wayne State College on Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, in Wayne, NE. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 12 noon. Sunday's single game also starts at 12 noon at
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Visit www.GoUMary.com/coverage for available links to live video and stats.
 
MARAUDERS/BEAVERS DOUBLEHEADER MOVES BACK TO THURSDAY, APRIL 9
The Highway 83 rivalry baseball doubleheader between the University of Mary and visiting Minot State University will be pushed back a day due to weather concerns. The Marauders and the Beavers Northern Sun twin bill is now set for Thursday, April 9. First pitch is slated for 1:30 pm at Municipal Ballpark in Bismarck, ND.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 17-13 overall this season and 10-7 in the Northern Sun… The Beavers are 13-17 overall and 8-12 in the NSIC... The Wildcats are 20-15 overall and 12-10 in the NSIC.    
 
HISTORY VS MINOT STATE
Since the 2013 season, the Marauders are 11-25 against the Beavers. Over the last ten games UMary 6-4 against Minot State. The Marauders earned a 2-0 non-conference road win over the Beavers on March 25 as eight UMary pitchers combined to hold MSU to three hits while striking out 12. Hank Griffin singled home the winning run in the sixth inning. Last season the two teams split a doubleheader with the Marauders winning the last game 7-6 on a walk-off single by Isaac Pegors in the 11th inning after overcoming a 6-1 deficit.
 
HISTORY VS WAYNE STATE
The Marauders are 7-29 all-time against the Wildcats in a series that started in 2007… UMary won the first meeting 3-1 on April 14, 2007, as Michael Allen threw a 4-hit complete game… The Wildcats won 3-of-4 games in 2025 in the first games the two teams had played in Bismarck, ND, since 2017. The previous 10 games had been played in Wayne, NE, and 14 straight in Nebraska.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders won 3-of-5 road games last weekend. UMary opened with an 11-1 win at Northern State as Ryan Chamberlain pitched a complete game. The Wolves responded with a 6-5 win in game two… The Marauders then took 2-of-3 from #14 Augustana in a series played in Lincoln, NE. In the opener Marcus Butts cracked a 2-run 9^th inning game-winning home run in a 3-2 victory. Five UMary pitchers limited a potent Augie attack to four hits. Butts drove in all three runs for the Marauders. Augie then rebounded for a 17-9 win, despite grand slams from Isaac Pegors and Bryce Leafgren. UMary claimed the rubber game 7-2 to win the series. Justin Hanson struck out six in 5.1 innings before Chamberlain pitched the last 3.2 innings for the save. Chamberlain entered the game with two runners on and one out in the fifth. He proceeded to slam the door by striking out the first two hitters he faced to end the inning. Leafgren had three hits, scored two runs and drove in two runs. Hank Griffin had two hits and two RBIs.
 
CHAMBERLAIN NAMED NSIC PITCHER OF THE WEEK FOR 2^ND TIME IN 2026
A complete game win followed by a save against a nationally ranked foe earned UMary's Ryan Chamberlain Northern Sun Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season and third time in his career. He is the only UMary pitcher to earn NSIC weekly honors twice in a season and multiple times in a career.
 
Chamberlain opened the week with a 7-inning complete game 11-1 win at Northern State University. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter while limiting the Wolves to one run and six hits. Four days later the senior from Laramie, WY, picked up the save in the Marauders 7-2 win over #14 Augustana to give UMary its first-ever series win against the Vikings. Entering the game in the sixth inning with one out, two runners on base and UMary leading 2-0, Chamberlain struck out both batters he faced to end the Augie threat. He pitched 3.2 innings to earn his second save of the season, striking out three, walking one and allowing two runs and five hits.
 
For the week, Chamberlain pitched 10.2 innings over two games, struck out eight and allowed three earned runs.
 
MARAUDERS TOP NCAA TOUGHEST SCHEDULE RANKINGS
UMary has played the most difficult schedule in NCAA Division II this season. The NCAA Toughest Schedule Report through April 4 lists the Marauders past opposition with a winning percentage of 0.672. The next closest team? Florida Southern with an opponent's winning percentage of .652. 
 
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE
The Marauders have played an incredibly challenging difficult schedule this season. Four UMary opponents are receiving national recognition this season:

• Opening weekend foe Rogers State University currently 9^th in the ABCA poll
• Minnesota State was ranked #9 when the Marauders played the Mavericks and are now #28 in the ABCA rankings
• Metropolitan State University of Denver was ranked as high at #18 this season and is #25 in the D2Baseball poll and #30 in the ABCA ranking
• The Vikings ranked #14 when the Marauders claimed the series win and are now #25 in the ABCA poll

The four teams have a combined 101-26 record this season. UMary has accounted for six of those losses.
 
FINISH WHAT YOU START
Marauders pitchers have thrown four complete games this season. Lucus Burgum has finished two of his starts and has thrown at least five innings in all seven of his starts. Ryan Chamberlain and Aiden Johnson also have complete games this season.
 
PICK IT
The Marauders have played stellar defense this season, ranking fourth in the Northern Sun and 74^th in NCAA D2 with a fielding percentage of .966. UMary has committed just 35 errors on the season in 30 games.
 
STOP THIEF
Teams are struggling to run against UMary backstops Cru Walker and Marcus Butts. Opponents have stolen just 31 bases in 45 attempts, a success rate of 68.9% 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 ten of 25 runners attempting to steal when Walker has been behind the plate.
 
HARD TO HIT
The Marauders pitching staff allows just 8.21 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 9.66 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 seven 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 (NO) RUN
Lucus Burgum has allowed just two earned runs in his last 24 innings. A run of 19 straight innings of holding opponents without an earned run ended in the second inning of the Marauders 3-2 win over #14 Augustana. Burgum didn't allow an earned run in his previous two starts, a 5-1 complete game win over Southwest Minnesota State and a 5-2 complete game win at Winona State… Burgum is 7^th in NCAA D2 in hits allowed per 9 innings (5.71), 26^th in WHIP (1.02) and 34^th in the country in complete games with two.
 
NO WALK ZONE
Ryan Chamberlain ranks 15^th in NCAA D2 in walks allowed/nine innings (1.47) and 29^th in strikeouts/walks (4.67). Chamberlain has limited opponents to 39 hits and six walks while striking out 28 in 36.2 innings.
 
STINGY
Reliever Cole Smith has yet to allow an earned run. In nine games over 14 innings Smith has a 3-1 record with two saves and 12 strikeouts. He has held opposing batters to eight hits and one unearned run.
 
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 8, 2026, Spencer has 135 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 .393/.523/.524 with a 1.047 OPS. He has scored 27 runs, hit five doubles, two home runs, drove in 12 runs and stole five bases.
• OF Isaac Pegors has driven in 27 runs in 28 games and owns a line of .286/.390/.495 with four doubles and six home runs.
• OF/1B Bryce Leafgren is leading the Marauders power production with 30 RBIs and eight home runs. The senior is batting .303/.449/.606 for a 1.055 OPS. 
• SS Hank Griffin is hitting .307/.410/.446 with six doubles, a triple and two home runs. He has scored 17 runs and driven in 17.
• 3B Kieran Gaffney is fourth on the team with 21 runs scored. The senior is hitting .299/.363/.361 and has 20 RBIs.  
• C/1B Marcus Butts is hitting .333/.426/.481 for a .907 OPS. The sophomore leads UMary with six doubles. He has scored 20 runs as has two home runs and 11 RBIs.
• Lucas Burgum has gone at least 5.0 innings in all seven starts and leads UMary in innings (41), strikeouts (44), WHIP (1.02), and ERA (3.29)
• Aiden Johnson has allowed six walks and struck out 22 in 27.2 innings with a 1.27 WHIP
• Ryan Chamberlain has a 1.23 WHIP over 36.2 innings with 28 Ks and six walks
• LHP Justin Hanson has 28 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. 
• Cole Smith leads the team in wins (3) and saves (2) with all three victories coming in relief. The sophomore has a yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings. He has given up eight hits, walked seven and struck out 12.
• Jacob Burgess owns a 2.08 ERA after 13 innings of relief. He has allowed just 11 hits with seven walks and eight strike outs.

 
2026 MARAUDERS HONORS

• Ryan Chamberlain was named NSIC Pitcher of the Week the opening week of the season. He 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 in his career, the only Marauder to win NSIC pitching honors twice in a career.
• Lucas Burgum was the NSIC Pitcher of the Week for a 5-1 complete game win over Southwest Minesota State in 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.
• Ryan Chamberlain was named the NSIC Pitcher of the Week April 7 after he earned a win and a save in the same week, becoming the first UMary pitcher to win the honor twice in one season. Chamberlain opened the week with a 7-inning complete game 11-1 win at Northern State University. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter while limiting the Wolves to one run and six hits. Four days later the senior from Laramie, WY, picked up the save in the Marauders 7-2 win over #14 Augustana to give UMary its first-ever series win against the Vikings. Entering the game in the sixth inning with one out, two runners on base and UMary leading 2-0, Chamberlain struck out both batters he faced to end the Augie threat. He pitched 3.2 innings to earn his second save of the season, striking out three, walking one and allowing two runs and five hits… For the week, Chamberlain pitched 10.2 innings over two games, struck out eight and allowed three earned runs.

 
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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