LEAD

RIPON, Wis. -- After falling 1-15 in the first game, Maranatha showed improvement in game two falling just short of extending past five innings as the Red-Hawks won the game 8-0 in walk-off fashion at the bottom of the fifth.

Bethany Searle led Maranatha with two hits on the day and an RBI. Grace Strauch was brought home after recording a triple in game one. 

OVERVIEW

• Results
  • Game One: Maranatha 1-15 Ripon (5-innings)
  • Game Two: Maranatha 0-8 Ripon (5-innings)
• Venue: Tracy Field / Ripon, Wisconsin
• Attendance: 20
• Records: MBU (0-22), RC (5-17)

STORY (Coming Soon)

Game 1

After a quick three out at the plate for the Sabercats to start the game, the Red-Hawks wasted no time getting on the board. Ripon's Kayla Cruz led her team off with a double and was quickly brought home off of another double from Anna Bauer. 

With two outs on them, Ripon was able to extend their lead from 2-0 to 6-0 before Maranatha could close out the inning. 

The Sabercats were able to move themselves into scoring position at the top of the second after hits from Bethany Searle and Kaili Swaffer. But the two were left stranded on base as their team went down looking. 

It wasn't until the top of the fourth that Maranatha was able to put a run on the board. A sacrifice from Searle brought home Grace Strauch who had led the inning off with a triple to the left field fence. 

Unfortunately single run was all Maranatha could produce as Ripon went on to win the opener 15-1.

Game 2 

The second game was a different story for the Sabercats. They closed the first inning only trailing by one run, which remained the case until the bottom of the third. Still, the game was far from over as the Red Hawks only held a 3-0 lead. 

But in what has seemed to be a struggle all season, Maranatha failed to find success at bat. Searle recorded Maranatha's only hit in the game, preventing the no-hitter.

With no runs to show for, the Sabercats were working hard to prevent their opponents from reaching eight runs which would end the game in five-innings. With the Red-Hawks leading 5-0 at the bottom of the fifth, Maranatha need just one more out to enter into the sixth inning for the second time this season. 

A ball hit in the air to right field stopped everyone's heart as it seemed to hang in the air. But the wind shifted it at the last second, causing it to escape the Sabercats defense, and allowing the winning runs to score for a Red Hawk walk-off. 
--

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), Melville (1B), Searle (3B), Mikkelson (LF), Swaffer (CF), Gaul (RF)

STATS

• Last Time: Maranatha fell to Ripon in a double-header back in 2001
• Series: Ripon leads the all-time series against Maranatha 13-3

OPPONENTS

• Ripon competes in the Midwest Conference (NCAA - Dlll)
• Ripon finished the 2023 season with a record of 14-24

NEXT

The Sabercats returns to Watertown, Wisconsin for a double-header against Mount Mary University Thursday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.