QUICK HITS

• Result: MBU 9-10 LCU, MBU 2-7 LCU
• Venue: Jack Getchel Field, Lincoln Christian University
• Attendance: 31, 39
• Record: Maranatha is now 0-2

THE LEAD

LINCOLN, Ill. -- The Sabercats came close on opening day against Lincoln Christian University but could not record a win to start the season.

Caleb Huthmaker and Elijah May both recorded their first career homers for Maranatha while Jordan Garrison went 5-6 with 3 RBI and 2 doubles on the day.

THE STORY

The first game of the season was won at the plate for Lincoln, as the Red Lions edged the Sabercats by 1 run in a 19-run contest. Maranatha recorded 3 straight hits to start the season and Elijah May walked in a run to begin the year off on the right foot.

LCU answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the first, however, as the Sabercats were forced back to reality in their first turn in the field.

The Sabercats' bats caught fire in the fourth inning, as Garrison whacked a double to deep left-center field, scoring 3 runners with a swing of the bat. In the fifth, Huthmaker made the most of a 2-0 pitch, connecting a drive over the left-field fence to make it a 1-run game at 8-9.

LCU answered with an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth frame, but the Sabercats made things interesting in their final chance to tie the game. Elijah May got things started with a leadoff single, and Cody Kuhl built on the momentum by drawing a walk. The duo both moved into scoring position after a gutsy double-steal call from Coach Gary Garrison, but the Sabercats could only push May across the plate. May came home off a David Hecker single, but the Sabercats ultimately came 1 run away from tying the game. 

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Game 2 was more of a pitchers' duel, as Garrison allowed just 2 runs through the first 4 innings. It was a 2-0 game until the fifth inning, when LCU pushed 2 more across to double their lead. The comeback seemed to be on in the top of the sixth, when Garrison and May combined for a powerful 2 runs. Garrison registered his second double of the day, and May brought his fellow captain home just 2 batters later. May saw his pitch right away, as he whacked the first pitch of his at-bat over the left-field fence to make it a 2-run ballgame.

The momentum would be short-lived for MBU, however, as Lincoln Christian answered May's 2-run homer with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

The Sabercats put 2 runners in scoring position in the seventh, but the Red Lions did just enough on defense to seal the 5-run win.

THE STATS

May finished the doubleheader with 3 hits, 2 runs, and 4 RBI.

May and Garrison combined for 7 of the Sabercats' 10 RBI over the 2 games.

Hecker recorded 3 hits on the day.

The Sabercats recorded a combined .400 on-base percentage in the 2 games.

The Sabercats recorded 11 runs off 16 hits on the day.

THE CALENDAR

The Sabercats will continue their trip south with a doubleheader at Johnson University Tennessee at 4 p.m. (EDT) Tuesday. Follow stats live at mbusabercats.com/composite.