THE LEAD

MINNEAPOLIS -- At the end of the day, the two teams had split the series, but Maranatha's bats exploded in a win for the record books at North Central University.

The Blue and Gold scored 22 runs in the final game of the series - a mark good enough for 9th-best in program history - to start the season with a 2-2 record.

THE OVERVIEW

• Results: Maranatha 7-14 North Central, Maranatha 22-9 North Central
• Venue: Xcel Field Park
• Location: Minneapolis
• Records: MBU (2-2), NCU (2-2)

THE STORY

After the teams finished game two from the day before (a 22-12 win for NCU), North Central came on stronger in game three of the series - the Rams limited Maranatha to 7 hits, which was Maranatha's lowest mark on the weekend. Hannah Hecker had 2 RBI and Dani Chaney scored three runs, but no one chalked more than two hits for MBU.

In the other dugout, North Central strung together 14 runs off 7 hits. Maranatha struggled defensively, making 8 errors in the game. 

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To close out the weekend, Maranatha put forward one of their best-ever performances at the plate. Dani Chaney, Taylor Thome, and Krysten Lawver all whacked their first career homers, and the Sabercats scored 22 runs - that's tied for 9th-best in program history and their highest run total in 10 years.

Hecker and Chaney both had 3 hits and Maranatha combined for 19 hits total. Everyone recorded at least 1 hit as the bats exploded in a win for the record books.

At the end of a tiring weekend, Maranatha and North Central had split the day, split the series, and set the tone for the rest of the 2021 season.

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Maranatha Lineup - Bullock (2B), Hecker (CF), Thome (SS), Chaney (C), Yancey (P), Thompson (RF), Lawver (1B), Nerat (3B), Sponable (LF)

THE SOUND BITE

"The girls did a great job," said Head Coach Rob Thompson. "They stayed focused even when we went down - they kept fighting back and it was really a great team effort. Erin [Yancey] did a great job pitching all four games, and it was good to finish with a strong outing in the fourth game for that big win. Overall it was just a great trip and a great way to start the new season. Just can't say enough - the girls did so well and stayed focused, stayed encouraged, and worked hard all the way through."

THE STATS

(Two-game totals)

• Chaney: 4-8, 6 R, 4 RBI, HR*
• Hecker: 4-8, 3 R, 4 RBI
• Thome: 3-7, 4 R, 3 RBI, HR*
• Lawver: 3-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, HR*
• Erin Yancey: Pitched all 22 innings on the weekend
• Erin Yancey: First career wins for Maranatha
• MBU: Everyone had a hit in game four

*First career home run

THE OPPONENTS

• North Central competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA DIII)
• North Central completed eight games in 2020 before the season was canceled

THE OUTLOOK

The Sabercats come to their home diamond Friday night to take on Rockford University at 5:00 p.m. in a doubleheader. Follow at mbusabercats.com/composite.