LEAD
HANNIBAL, Mo. -- Maranatha struggled in their season opener against the hard hitting Trojans of Hannibal University. The Sabercats were only able to record two hits to their opponents' 16, resulting in their 1-14 loss.
Teddy Haugen recorded both hits for the Sabercats, one of which was a home run in the seventh inning to give his team their only run of the game.
OVERVIEW
- Result: Maranatha 1-14 Hannibal-LeGrange
- Venue: Nichols Field
- Location: Hannibal, Mo.
- Attendance: 50
- Records: MBU (0-1), HLU (3-7)
STORY
Maranatha had the opportunity to score early on in their season opener after Teddy Haugen hit a single to advance Tim Nickols to second base, who had been walked. But a ground out to short-stop, sent the Sabercats back to the dugout empty-handed.
Unfortunately, this first-inning action would be the most Maranatha would see until the final inning as they were only able to record two hits throughout the game.
The Trojans, on the other hand, got things rolling right away as Jackson Maxwell led his team off with a triple. He later found his way home on a fielder's choice, putting the first point on the board.
Hannibal took advantage of some early errors from the Sabercats, stealing bases and extending their lead 3-0 by the end of the first.
The Trojans continued to show strength at the plate, finishing with with 16 hits and only four strikeouts, which came at the hand of Maranatha's Joe Anderson.
The Sabercats batters took to the field at the top of the seventh with one last chance to get something going. Teddy Haugen who was still the only Sabercat to get a hit in the game, came to the plate as a pinch hitter and crushed the ball over the fence to earn the Sabercats their solo point.
But this is all the team could manage as they closed out the inning by striking-out, finalizing the score at 14-1 Hannibal.
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Maranatha Lineup - 17- Martin 3B, 13- Cucuro SS, 9- Anderson P, 2- Brayden C, 5- Nickels CF, 19- Pittsenbarger RF, 15- Piranian LF, 18- Haugen 1B, 21- Cook 2B
STATS
- Last Time: Maranatha fell to Hannibal-LeGrange 1-12 on April 10, 2018
- Series: Hannibal-LeGrange leads the series 2-0 against Maranatha
- Haugen: Single (1st-Inning); Solo HR (7th-Inning)
- Anderson: Pitched four strike-outs
OPPONENTS
- Hannibal-LeGrange competes in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Dl North Central Region (NAIA)
- Hannibal-LeGrange also competes in the American Midwest Conference
- Hannibal-LeGrange finished the 2023 season with a record of 5-33
NEXT
The Sabercats stay in Hannibal, Missouri to face Hannibal-LeGrange again in a double-header tomorrow starting at 3 P.M. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.
