Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 March 19, 2022
THE LEAD
ELSAH, Ill. -- The Sabercats dropped both games of a double-header against Principia today by final scores of 7-4 and 8-3.
Starting pitchers Sam Ratledge and Kyle Cummins had strong outings despite the losses.
THE OVERVIEW
- Results: Maranatha 4-7 Principia
- Results: Maranatha 3-8 Principia
- Venue: Cheatham Stadium, Principia College
- Location: Elsah, Ill.
- Attendance: 20
- Records: MBU (0-2), PC (2-5)
THE STORY
Game 1: After a couple of uneventful innings, the Sabercats took their first lead of the season in the third as Ty Smith drove in Daniel Piranian with a sac fly to center. 1-0 advantage, Sabercats.
In the fourth, the Sabercats struck again as Jonah Bailey scored from second on a Nate Croswell double to right, followed by an RBI double for Daniel, his first career hit and RBI. They couldn't push him in from second but finished the inning with a 3-0 lead. That's when Principia struck in the bottom of the inning with two runs, despite a great double play turned by the Maranatha infield.
Principia shut down Maranatha's bats in the top of the fifth then struck again in the bottom of the inning, forcing a pitching change. the Panthers drove in two runs in the inning to take a 4-3 lead. The Sabercats tied it back up in the top of the sixth as Jared Martin scored on a fielder's choice, but the Panthers shut down the runner on second to end the inning. Then, Principia took advantage of several Maranatha fielding errors to take a 7-4 lead in the bottom half of the sixth. As the closer came in to finish off the game, Maranatha got a man to second but couldn't score him, dropping the first game of the double-header.
Game 2: David Cripps came back with a vengeance after going hitless in game one, knocking his first hit of the year to start the game. Kyle Cummins also reached on a single, allowing Jonah Bailey to drive both of them in with a two-run double. But the Panthers stayed close by tying the game in the bottom half at two-a-piece.
Principia then took advantage of more errors in the third, taking a 5-2 lead. Maranatha did score another run in the top of the fourth on a Jonathan Piranian sac fly that drove Croswell in from third, but it wasn't enough to take the lead back.
The Panthers added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, making a comeback a tough task for the Sabercats as they fell 8-3 in Saturday's finale.
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Maranatha Lineup (Game 1) - 7- D. Cripps (C), 19- T. Smith (SS), 8- Cummins (1B), 6- Ratledge (P), 4- J. Bailey (3B), 3- Croswell (2B), 10- M. Cripps (CF), 11- D. Piranian (RF), 15- J. Piranian (LF)
Maranatha Lineup (Game 2) - 7- D. Cripps (C), 19- T. Smith (SS), 8- Cummins (P), 23- Nickels (1B), 4- J. Bailey (3B), 3- Croswell (2B), 9- M. Bailey (RF), 15- J. Piranian (LF), 10- M. Cripps (CF)
THE STATS
THE OPPONENTS
- Principia competes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA DIII)
- Principia did not compete in baseball in 2021
- Principia's best program season was 2018 when they finished 22-15
THE OUTLOOK
The Sabercats continue on the road to Tennessee, where they will face Johnson on Thursday at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. EDT. Catch all the action at mbusabercats.com.
