Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

BISMARCK, N.D. – University of Mary junior Sami Antolin knocked a pair of two-run doubles – one in each game – while sophomore Desi Smith cracked a three-run home run that just cleared the foul pole down the line and had four RBI in Game 1 to lead the Marauders to a pair of wins over the visiting Northern State University Wolves Wednesday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball action.

The losses dropped the Wolves to 6-38 overall and 2-16 in league action, while the Central Region's tenth-ranked Marauders squad moved to 25-17 on the season and 10-8 in the loop, snapping a five-game losing skid in the process.

U-Mary jumped out to an early lead with a pair of three-run innings followed by a two-run outing in the first three innings, chasing NSU starter Kelli Bornander after just two and a third innings.  Freshman right hander Stephanie Horkey came on in relief and shut the Marauders down, allowing just two hits and no runs in the final three and two thirds innings.

After a scoreless start to the game, the Wolves' offense finally touched up starter Ashley Watson in the top of the fifth inning for three runs.  Sophomore Ashley Gabler knocked out an RBI double to score freshman Allyson Teclaw and put runners at second and third for sophomore Whitney Luhring, who entered the game with a team-best .333 batting average.

Luhring delivered with a single through the left side that scored both Gabler and sophomore Brooke Norris to make it an 8-3 affair and spelled the end of Watson's outing.  Freshman Emily Brunskill, however, did for the Marauders what Horkey did for the Wolves, throwing two and two-thirds innings of shutout ball to preserve the U-Mary win.

Northern State left-hander Kelley Suggs continued to shut off the Marauder bats in Game 2, save for a two-out, two-RBI double off the bat of Antolin in the second inning that gave U-Mary all the scoring it would need.

The Marauders' Brenda Langston kept the Wolves at bay, allowing just two hits and a pair of walks while striking out seven for the complete-game shutout.  NSU freshman Brittany Lenander and lead-off hitter Norris came up with the Wolves' lone hits on the day.  Norris' one-out single in the top of the sixth extended her hitting streak to three games, matching her longest of the season.

The Wolves remain on the road for a four-game set this weekend, taking on Concordia-St. Paul for two games on Saturday and St. Cloud State in a Sunday afternoon twin bill.  First pitch is set for noon both days with Game 2 of each doubleheader beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener.