Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The visiting University of Mary Marauders gifted the Northern State University Wolves nine errors in Game 1 of Tuesday's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader – including two in the bottom of the seventh that allowed the Wolves to tie the game – but the Wolves were unable to capitalize, stranding 14 runners in the opener and falling by a 13-8 count in eight innings and 4-3 in the nightcap.

NSU slipped to 8-20 on the season and 2-8 in conference play, while the Marauders improved to 18-12 on the season and an even 5-5 in league play.

Northern State recorded eight hits and turned the nine errors into four unearned runs and had a chance to win the game after loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Back-to-back errors on the Marauders gave the Wolves their third and fourth runs of the inning to tie things up at 8-apiece.  U-Mary reliever Rachel Davis induced a pair of ground balls on the next two batters, cutting down the winning run at the plate on the first and ending the inning with the second.

The Marauders then came back with a five-run eighth inning, starting with a bases-clearing, 3-run double off the bat of Calie Brown, followed by an triple from Rosie Gonzalez and an RBI groundout from Jenna Button.

Davis then worked around a two-out double from NSU's Lindsey Hubler in the bottom of the eighth to earn her sixth win of the season despite the blown save opportunity.

Offensively, the Wolves got two-hit performances from Hubler, Rachel South, Brittany Huback, Kelsey Robling and Allyson Teclaw, but left 14 runners stranded on base and struck out eight times.

NSU sophomore Stephanie Horkey, who came on in relief in the fifth inning, took the loss after giving up seven runs in 3.1 innings.  Senior Kelley Suggs started the game, allowing six runs (five earned) on 12 hits and had the Wolves' only strikeout the game.

Both teams settled down in Game 2, as this time it was the Marauders who took advantage of a Northern State defensive miscue to score all four of their runs with two outs in the top of the second inning.  All four tallies were unearned.

The Wolves responded with three runs in the bottom of that inning, getting back-to-back singles from Suggs and Luhring to lead off the stanza.  U-Mary pitcher Emily Brunskill then hit the next two batters, Ashley Gabler and Teclaw, to put the Wolves on the board.

Two groundball outs later – both of which cut down lead runners at the plate – South delivered an RBI single and Huback followed with an RBI walk to cut the Marauder advantage to one at 4-3.

That would be as much as either team would get.  NSU starter Kelli Bornander went all seven innings without allowing an earned run, but taking the loss.  Bornander surrendered ten hits and three walks while striking out three.

Brunskill got the win for the Marauders, allowing three runs on eight hits, a walk, two hit batters and striking out one.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow, this time in a non-conference doubleheader in Bismarck.  First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.