April 13, 2023 | by Taylor Pill

LEAD

ROSEVILLE, Minn. -- Thanks to a hot streak with the bats and a sharpened defensive effort, the Sabercats reversed the series with North Central University 9-6 today to pick up their first win of the season.

Teddy Haugen tallied his first career home run while Jonathan Piranian had a career-high four RBIs in game two, as the duo combined for a memorable and hard-earned win at Reynolds Field at the University of Northwestern.

OVERVIEW

• Result Game One: Maranatha 0-15 North Central
• Result Game Two: Maranatha 9-6 North Central
• Venue: Reynolds Field - University of Northwestern St. Paul
• Location: Roseville, Minn.
• Attendance: -
• Records: MBU (1-14), NCU (1-18)

STORY

The first game was a struggle for Maranatha, who let North Central steamroll their way to a 15-0 win thanks to three big innings. North Central's high point came in the fifth, when they compiled eight runs off of four hits and an error. North Central's Christian Rodriguez went the distance for the hosts in game one, allowing just five hits for MBU.

The second game was where it all came together for Maranatha.

The Sabercats got right down to business in the top of the first inning, as Piranian smacked a double with two outs to bring home Joe Anderson and Ty Smith. In the very next at-bat, Haugen went yard for the first time in his college career and Maranatha was flying with a 4-0 lead.

Haugen took to the mound to fan two of the next three batters in the bottom of the second, and the freshman pitched was proving his worth in the box and on the mound, as he limited the Rams to one run through three innings. North Central scored four in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-4 deficit, but Maranatha would add five runs in the fourth through sixth innings. RBI doubles from Piranian and Smith and an RBI single from Judson Martin highlighted that offensive burst for the Sabercats, who sealed out their first win of the season 9-6.

It was a day to remember for Piranian, Haugen, and the rest of the Sabercats, who enter their first home games with a win under their belt.

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

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

STATS

• Box Score (Game One)
• Box Score (Game Two)
• Last Time: North Central swept Maranatha in a doubleheader on May 1, 2021 (7-2, 21-7) 
• Series: North Central leads the all-time series 18-6

OPPONENTS

• Lakeland competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA-Dlll)
• North Central finished the 2022 season with a record of 7-18

NEXT

The Sabercats have their home opener against Wisconsin Lutheran on Monday starting at 3:00 p.m. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.