SIOUX FALLS, SD – Unable to take advantage of a plethora of baserunners, the University of Mary opened the 2026 Northern Sun baseball tournament with a 6-2 loss to Winona State University. The Marauders pounded out 13 hits and had 17 baserunners but stranded 15. UMary left the bases loaded three times – including twice in the first three innings – and left multiple runners on base two other times.
UMary now faces Minot State University on Thursday, May 7, in an elimination game. Game time is 12 noon at Augustana University's Ronken Field. The winner of the Marauders-Beavers game faces the loser of the Augustana-Sioux Falls game 45 minutes after the conclusion of the Vikings-Cougars contest, which is set to start at 3:30 pm. Those games will also be played at Ronken Field.
The Marauders are 34-17 overall this season and is the #3 seed at the NSIC tournament. Winona State is now 26-24 overall and is the #6 seed.
UMary loaded the bases with one out in the first but was unable to push across a run. In the third the Marauders loaded the bases with two outs but couldn't grab a lead.
Despite not hitting a ball out of the infield, the Warriors scored twice in the fifth inning. Following a pair of one-out walks, an attempt to force a runner at third was misplayed to allow the first run to score. An infield single then scored a second run.
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Kieran Gaffney 2-out single to score
Marcus Butts in the bottom of the fifth inning sliced the UMary deficit in half.
The Warriors opened their lead to 4-1 with a 2-run triple to center field by Connor Weed. A leadoff home run by All-NSIC right fielded
Isaac Pegors closed the gap to 4-2.
Winona State took advantage of another UMary defensive miscue in the ninth to build a 6-2 lead. The Marauders loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but was unable to score.
All-NSIC pitcher
Lucas Burgum limited the Warriors to just one earned run and three hits but also walked four and hit two in 4.1 innings.
Bryce Leafgren and Gaffney both had three hits for UMary. Butts added two. Eight of nine Marauders in the lineup had at least one hit.
Weed led the Warriors with two hits, two RBIs and a run scored.
Nathan Vela earned the win after allowing just one run in 5.0 innings. Max Strecker struck out four in 2.1 scoreless innings for the save.
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