LEAD

DEPERE, Wis. -- It was an all around struggle for the Sabercats as they fell to Lawrence 1-22 in game one. But while they were able to cut their opponents score in half the second time around, falling 0-11. 

Grace Strauch and Bethany Searle earned the only two hits for the Sabercats, each recording doubles in the first game. Strauch earned an RBI off her hit, keeping Maranatha from a game one shut-out.

OVERVIEW

• Results
  • Game One: Maranatha 1-22 Lawrence (5-innings)
  • Game Two: Maranatha 0-11 Lawrence (5-innings)
• Venue: Miron Construction Field
• Attendance: 55
• Records: MBU (0-16), LU (8-12)

STORY 

Game 1

While Maranatha was able to keep things within range, giving up only two runs in the first inning to the Vikings, things continued to spiral out of hand as the game went on. 

Failure to make plays in both the infield and outfield allowed Lawrence to run up their score in each inning, scoring five in the second, seven in the third, and 10 in the fourth. 

While a comeback was long out of reach, Maranatha was still able to prevent the shut out. With two outs in the top of the third, Ashley Nerat won a full-count battle to get on base. Grace Strauch then came to the plate and crushed her first pitch over the head of center field for an RBI double.

Game 2 

After a short break, Maranatha took back to the field for game two, this time with a little more focus and energy. But it was still far from perfect as the Vikings earned two of their first three runs through Sabercat errors. 

Maranatha put themselves in good position at the top of the second, with one on first and second. But they couldn't close the score gap as Lawrence retired the side with the Sabercats still stranded on base. 

Over the next two innings, the Sabercats looked like a whole new team defensively. But a couple well placed balls from the Vikings allowed them to bring in a couple more runs, giving them a 5-0 lead at the top of the fourth. 

The bottom of the fourth is where things take a turn for the worse. Maranatha couldn't seem to catch a break, handing over six more runs which would end the game after five innings, 11-0.

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

STATS

• Last Time: Maranatha fell to Lawrence the last time they met back in 1987.
• Series: Lawrence now leads the all-time series against Maranatha 3-1

OPPONENTS

• Lawrence competes in the Midwest Conference (NCAA Dlll)
• Lawrence finished the 2023 season with a record of 5-33

NEXT

The travel to Glendale, Wisconsin for a double-header against Mount Mary University tomorrow, at 3 p.m./5 p.m. Details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.