April 21, 2023 | by Taylor Pill

LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats took a couple of losses to Grace Christian Friday, but they produced their best offensive showing in any two-game series this season, falling 6-7 and 5-12 on a cloudy day at Washington Park.

This was the first of a two-day series, as the teams will go at it again tomorrow, Saturday, April 22, at 2:00 p.m. in a doubleheader.

OVERVIEW

• Result Game One: Maranatha 6-7 Grace Christian
• Result Game Two: Maranatha 5-12 Grace Christian
• Venue: Washington Park
• Location: Watertown, Wisconsin
• Attendance: -
• Records: MBU (1-16), GCU (5-23)

STORY

The Sabercats allowed a run in the top of the first inning, but they made their first at-bat at Washington Park a memorable one, scoring two runs off of RBIs from Teddy Haugen and Michael Cripps. It was a five-hit inning, and the Sabercats were flying right out of the gate.9

This RBI single from �� Michael Cripps caps off a two-run first inning - our first home at-bat as a team this season!

Catch the rest: https://t.co/Ragice7paj pic.twitter.com/sial0oZaD0

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) April 21, 2023

From there, the Tigers answered immediately with a four-run second inning - the loudest offensive display of the game - and the Sabercats were left searching for momentum again.

Jon Piranian and Tim Nickels both had RBIs to make it a two-run game, as the Sabercats tried to keep pace with the persistent Tigers. The game really heated up in the bottom of the sixth, when the Sabercats cut the deficit from 4-7 to 6-7 thanks to and RBI single from Haugen and a walked-in run from Nickels, but that was as close as the Sabercats could come, leaving the bases jammed to close the sixth.

Grace's Adam Pierce pitched 1.1 innings, as the Sabercats went three up; three down to come that close in game one.

In game two, Haugen had an encore performance after his two RBIs in game one, as the freshman stepped up and corked a double to left to put the Sabercats up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. But the Tigers had quite the answer through Jaden Schoeneman, who blasted an RBI triple with the bases loaded to put Grace Christian ahead 4-1 in the fourth inning.

The pitchers' duel had broken, and the Tigers went on a rampage, scoring 11 runs in three innings to put the Sabercats down 1-12.

The Sabercats tried to rally with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, as RBI doubles from Piranian and David Cripps and a Michael Cripps RBI single boosted both the team and the home crowd. But the Sabercats' push at the end was no match for the Tigers' earlier onslaught.

At the end of the day, the Tigers had the wins and the Sabercats were left with a salty taste in their mouth but a forward look to Saturday's Parents' Day doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.

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Maranatha Lineup (Game One) - 7- D. Cripps C, 19- Smith SS, 9- Anderson 1B, 18- Haugen 3B, 23- Nickels RF, 15- Piranian LF, 4- M. Cripps CF, 17- Ju. Martin P, 2- Fredrickson 2B

Maranatha Lineup (Game Two) - 7- D. Cripps C, 19- Smith SS, 9- Anderson 1B, 18- Haugen 2B, 23- Nickels RF, 15- Piranian LF, 4- M. Cripps P, 17- Ju. Martin 3B, 2- Fredrickson CF

STATS

• Box Score (Game One)
• Box Score (Game Two)
• Last Time: Grace Christian defeated Maranatha on April 23, 2022 by a score of 17-5
• Series: Grace Christian leads the overall series over Maranatha 5-0

OPPONENTS

• Grace Christian competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association - Mideast Region (Dll)
• Grace Christian finished the 2022 season with a record of 3-37
• This is Grace Christian's second season with the program

NEXT

The Sabercats stay in Watertown to face Grace Christian again tomorrow in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.