Tucson, Ariz. – An early lead for the University of Mary baseball team evaporated late in a 17-5 loss to the College of Idaho. The Coyotes scored 13 times in the final two innings to run away with the contest.
Behind a strong starting performance by U-Mary (1-6 overall) freshman righthander
Jake Johnson and a shaky outing by the Coyotes (9-6) Gary Koopman, the Marauders built up a 4-0 lead.
Despite not allowing a hit, Koopman was pulled in the second after walking four and hitting two to give U-Mary a 3-0 advantage.
Andrew Beyer,
Seth Meide and
Sean Hennen all received bases loaded walks to force in runs.
The Marauders added a run in the third. Following a walk to
AJ Schaefbauer, a Coyotes throwing error on a ground ball by
Tom Imholte placed U-Mary runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly to right field by
Mason Schiff scored Schaefbauer for the fourth run of the game.
Following a two-run outburst by the Coyotes in the top of the fourth, Hennen pushed the Marauders advantage to 5-2 with a run-scoring triple plating Beyer in the home half of the inning.
After allowing the two runs in the fourth, Johnson returned to form in the fifth. Despite allowing a single and a walk, the freshman kept the Coyotes off the scoreboard in his final inning of the game. In his second collegiate start, Johnson allowed just two runs on three hits and four walks with four strikeouts in five innings.
Another U-Mary freshman,
Kenny Slominski, kept the Coyotes off the board in the sixth but was tagged for two runs in the seventh.
Holding a tenuous 5-4 lead entering the eight inning, the Marauders proved unable to maintain the lead. The Coyotes erupted for six runs on six hits and a Marauders error. The big blow was a two-run triple by Cole Mansanerez to break a 5-5 tie. A Chase Miller single scored Mansanerez to increase the Idaho lead to 8-5. The Coyotes tacked on two unearned runs and finished the eighth leading 10-5.
The Coyotes put the game out of reach with seven more runs in the ninth.
Five different Marauders contributed to the five U-Mary hits in the game. Beyer had a hit and two walks plus both scored and drove in a run. Hennen knocked in two. Schiff also scored and drove in a run.
Miller paced the Coyote attack with a 4-for-4 at the plate, scoring three times and driving in two. Sam Grise was 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Marauders continue their spring trip to Tucson with two games on Monday, facing Malone University for the third time and Grace College.
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