April 3, 2023 | by Taylor Pill

LEAD

MAUSTON, Wis. -- Joe Anderson pitched a one-hitter for the first time in almost 20 years of program history, but the Sabercats were still left winless in a frustrating doubleheader against Northland College at Woodside Sports Complex today.

The Sabercats had the tying run at the plate in game two but stayed out of the wins column on a building but frustrating day. The Sabercats come home for a doubleheader scheduled for Thursday at 3:00 p.m.

OVERVIEW

• Result Game One: Maranatha 0-3 Northland
• Result Game Two: Maranatha 5-7 Northland
• Venue: Woodside Sports Complex - Wisconsin Dells
• Location: Mauston, Wis.
• Attendance: -
• Records: MBU (0-9), NC (8-9)

STORY

Anderson brought his best stuff to the mound in the first game, pitching a one-hitter for the first time in recent Maranatha Baseball history.*

But despite the freshman's heat from the mound, the Lumberjacks took advantage of one Sabercat error in the fifth and their lone hit, which came in the sixth inning. Northland plated three runs in that two-inning stretch, which turned out to be all the damage they needed to inflict.

On the Sabercats' side of things, it was a game of missed opportunities, as Maranatha stranded 14 runners on base in the seven-inning endeavor. Tim Nickels logged a pair of hits while Judson Martin, Michael Cripps, and Jonathan Piranian all had singles, highlighting the bottom of the order for Maranatha. Even after Anderson's stellar performance on the mound, the Sabercats were left searching for their first win of the season.

The second game of the day was less of a defensive battle, and after a relatively quiet first two innings, Northland struck first with three runs in the third. Anderson would score the Sabercats' answering run in the top of the fourth when Maranatha took advantage of a couple of Northland errors, but the Lumberjacks restored the three-run lead in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-1 ballgame.

Three runs off of three hits pushed Northland ahead 7-1 going into the top of the seventh, but just when it looked like a done deal, Maranatha made it interesting.

Teddy Haugen and Wyatt Arterberry led off with singles, and Piranian's single with the bases loaded ended up scoring two more runs. Seven-three.

David Cripps logged an RBI with a grounder that brought home Joe Cook, and when Ty Smith smashed a double to center field to make it a 7-5 Northland lead, things were nervy for the Lumberjacks to say the least.

But the magic would end there. Northland retired the side on the next play to stop the Sabercats' momentum, deny them the win, and sweep the doubleheader on a day that was so close, yet so far for MBU.

*Official statistics are unavailable for career one-hitters in the program. This was the first time since 2011 that a Maranatha pitcher has completed a one-hitter, and the first time since 2005 that a one-hitter or better was pitched in a seven-inning game.

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

Maranatha Lineup (Game Two) - 7- D. Cripps C, 19- Smith SS, 9- Anderson 1B, 23- Nickels RF, 18- Haugen P, 4- M. Cripps CF, 17- Ju. Martin 3B, 15- Piranian LF, 20- Ja. Martin 2B

STATS

• Box Score (Game One)
• Box Score (Game Two)
• Last Time: Northland swept Maranatha in a double-header last season on April 25, 2022 (7-0, 12-2) 
• Series: Northland leads the all-time series 4-1

OPPONENTS

• Northland competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA-Dlll)
• Northland finished the 2022 season with a record of 5-28

NEXT

The Sabercats take on Wisconsin Lutheran on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. in a doubleheader for their home opener in Watertown, Wisconsin. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.