LEAD

CARLINVILLE, Ill. -- Maranatha showed some defensive improvement in their second day battle against Blackburn. But they continued to struggle to put the ball in play at the plate, resulting in 0-8 and 0-14 losses.

Ashley Nerat recorded the only hit for Maranatha in the first game. Kaili Swaffer and Bethany Searle both recorded a single in the second game.

OVERVIEW

• Results Game One: Maranatha 0-8 Blackburn (5-innings)
• Results Game Two: Maranatha 0-14 Blackburn (5-innings)
• Venue: Blackburn College - Carlinville, Illinois
• Attendance: 50
• Records: MBU (0-8), BC (7-9)

STORY 

Game 1

Ashley Nerat got things started for the Sabercats early in the first inning with a single to left field. But unfortunately, that would be the only hit Maranatha would see in the game as they struggled to get more than three-at bats in each inning that followed. 

On the field, Maranatha's defensive showed early strength keeping the score at 0-0 by the end of the first. But the second inning changed the game as the Beavers were able to earn six runs on three errors from the Sabercats.

But Maranatha cleaned up their act in the innings to follow, allowing only one run for Blackburn in both the third and fourth innings. But an 8-0 lead is all the Beavers needed to end the game in five innings, sending the teams to the dugout to prepare for the second game. 

Game 2

Maranatha's spirits were high, having come off of a decent defensive game. But hopes were quickly extinguished in the bottom of the first as Blackburn showed impressive strength at the plate, sending ball after ball to the fence. They recorded 10 hits and earned nine runs, giving themselves an early cushion.

While the Sabercats were starting to connect with the ball at the plate more in game two, they failed to hit the gaps which gave the Beavers defense easy cleanup opportunities. 

Blackburn continued to show power at the plate at the bottom of the second, recording three more hits and extending their lead to 14-0. But Maranatha once again cleaned up their defensive and kept the Beaver's score from moving through the rest of the game. 

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Maranatha Lineup Game 1 - Melville (C), Searle (P), Strauch (SS), Malmanger (2B), Nerat (1B), Mullikin (3B), Mikkelson (LF), Swaffer (CF), Gaul (RF)

Maranatha Lineup Game 2 - Nerat (C), McIntyre (P), Strauch (SS), Malmanger (2B), Searle (1B), Melville (3B), Mikkelson (LF), Swaffer (CF), Gaul (RF)

STATS

• Last Time: Blackburn defeated Maranatha 16-0 and 15-0 in a double-header yesterday.
• Series: Blackburn leads Maranatha 19-0 in the series.

OPPONENTS

• Blackburn competes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA-DIII)
• Blackburn finished the 2023 season with a record of 11-25

NEXT

The Sabercats travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to face North Central University in a double-header Thursday, March 28, starting at 12:30 P.M. Details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.