Season Finale
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lincoln Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
|
Maranatha | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lincoln Christian | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 5 |
|
Maranatha | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
LEAD
WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats dropped the final two games of the season on Friday night, losing 8-6 and 6-3 to Lincoln Christian.
The seniors finished their careers strong and delivered some clutch plays to help spur late comebacks that fell just short.
OVERVIEW
- Game One: Maranatha 6-8 Lincoln Christian
- Game Two: Maranatha 3-6 Lincoln Christian
- Venue: Fred Merkle Field, Washington Park
- Location: Watertown, Wis.
- Attendance: 31, 35
- Records: MBU (0-22), LCU (2-30)
STORY
Senior Sam Ratledge toed the rubber for the final time as a Sabercat to start Game 1, and he gave everything he had as the ace of the staff. Lincoln was able to scratch across a cheap run in the first inning, but the Sabercats wasted two free baserunners to start the first and failed to score. That changed in the bottom of the second when Michael Cripps grounded out to the right side of the infield with a runner on third, allowing the run to score to tie the game at one apiece.
The Red Lions added two in the top of the third, but Cripps stopped them from scoring again by firing a laser to home plate to throw out a potential run. Then the Sabercats responded with ferocity in the bottom of the inning. Senior Kyle Cummins scored on an error, followed by a Micah Bailey bases-loaded walk. The production then ceased for a couple of innings after Lincoln doubled home a run in the fourth. Maranatha stranded a man at third in the bottom of that inning, then failed to respond after Lincoln added three more runs in the fifth.
But despite being down 8-3 in the sixth, the Sabercats refused to give up. Ty Smith led off the inning with a double, then fifth-year senior Nate Croswell singled him home. After he and Cummins advanced to third and second respectively on an error, Tim Nickels grounded out to third to score Croswell. Next batter - Ratledge crushed a hanging curveball for an RBI double, his second such hit in two games. In an 8-6 deficit in the seventh, Maranatha got runners to the corners once again, but they were unable to score and lost Game 1 by a score of 8-6.
-
In what they anticipated to be the final game of the season (and in some cases, their career), the Sabercats turned once again to Cummins to toe the rubber, who would eventually go on to pitch his fourth complete game of the season. Cummins was able to get Lincoln to go quietly in the first, and the Sabercats followed it up by scoring a run on a wild pitch with the bases loaded, taking a 1-0 lead.
Cummins dominated for the second and third innings, as well, helped by an incredible defensive play by Croswell in the third to catch a popup behind the first base bag and gun out the runner who tagged up from third base trying to score. But the offense was unable to convert another runner in scoring position in the second and failed to get a runner to second base in the third. That's when Lincoln came back and took advantage of a couple of outfield errors in the fourth, scoring two to take the lead. Lincoln added two more in both the fifth and the sixth, giving them a 6-1 lead headed into the final inning of the season.
Cummins went out for the final inning of his career and stood firm in the occasion. After a leadoff walk, he forced a flyout to right field and struck out the second batter. He then ended his pitching career by forcing a groundball that bounced skyward off the second base bag, allowing Smith to grab it and throw out the runner at second base.
With one out in the bottom of the inning, Croswell drew a four-pitch walk in his final career plate appearance, followed by Cummins singling in his final career at-bat. Nickels then tripled to drive in both runners, making the Lincoln lead 6-3. But the Red Lion recovered and stopped the next two batters cold, finishing Maranatha's season with a 6-3 loss.
In their final career games, the seniors showed their leadership and experience. Ratledge pitched 5.0 innings and struck out four, while also doubling in a run. Croswell went 2-6 with an RBI, a walk, and 2 runs scored. Cummins went 3-9 on the day and scored three runs, while also pitching 7.0 innings and striking out five in his final pitching appearance. Jonah Bailey also tallied two hits and scored a run.
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Maranatha Lineup (Game One) - 19- T. Smith (SS), 3- Croswell (C), 8- Cummins (3B), 23- Nickels (1B), 6- Ratledge (P), 4- J. Bailey (LF), 15- J. Piranian (CF), 9- M. Bailey (2B), 10- M. Cripps (RF)
Maranatha Lineup (Game Two) - 19- T. Smith (SS), 3- Croswell (2B), 8- Cummins (P), 23- Nickels (1B), 4- J. Bailey (C), 9- M. Bailey (3B), 11- D. Piranian (LF), 15- J. Piranian (CF), 10- M. Cripps (RF)
STATS
OPPONENTS
- Lincoln Christian competes in the NAIA
- Lincoln Christian also competes in the NCCAA DI North Central region
- Lincoln Christian played in their final program games on Friday against Maranatha
NEXT
The Sabercats have finished the season after the cancellation of Saturday's games to due rain. Thank you to all the fans, players, and coaches for their dedication to the team!
