LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- Despite the double-header loss to Mount Mary, the Sabercats put up a good fight rattling their opponents. Maranatha thrived in the rainy weather, going past five-innings for the second time this season and earning their first lead of the season early in game two.

OVERVIEW

• Results
  • Game One: Maranatha 1-13 Mount Mary (5-innings)
  • Game Two: Maranatha 3-12 Mount Mary (6-innings)
• Venue: Brandt-Quirk Park / Watertown, Wisconsin
• Attendance: 15
• Records: MBU (0-24), MMU (6-19)

STORY 

GAME ONE
Mount Mary found themselves two outs down early to start the game. But Jodi Penman earned a three RBI double to deep left, to put the Blue Angels in good position. Before Maranatha was able to retire the side, Mount Mary added on three more runs for a 6-0 cushioned lead early in the day. 

But Maranatha's lead off hitters went to work and did their job to get the Sabercats on the board. Ella Malmanger won a free trip to first after a full count battle and was moved to scoring position after a well-placed sacrifice bunt by Ashley Nerat. A single to left from Racquelle Melville brought Malmanger home, setting the score at 6-1 at the end of the first. 

Outhitting Maranatha 15 to 4, Mount Mary continued to add on runs in both the third and fourth innings which led to an eventual 13-1 victory after five-innings. 


GAME TWO
The second game saw a better start for the Sabercats. Maranatha kept Mount Mary at zero during throughout their first at-bat and quickly got things started when it was their chance at the plate.  Malmanger, who led her team off with a single up the left infield, was quickly brought home with a right-center double from Nerat. Grace Strauch immediately followed with a double of her own to the same spot, bringing Nerat home. 

For the first time this season, Maranatha found themselves with a 2-0 lead at the bottom of the first. 

The next few innings were a full out battle, as the rain started to come down harder. Mount Mary evened up the score 2-2 before taking a 3-2 lead after the top of the third. But the Sabercats quickly went to work, loading the bases to put their tying run just 60 feet away. Ashleigh Mullikin took a ball off the knee, allowing Bethany Searle a free trip home to even things up three apiece going into the fourth inning. 

Things got a little rocky defensively for the Sabercats in the next inning, after a couple errors led to the Blue Angels gaining a 8-3 cushion. But despite the lead, Mount Mary still did not feel they were out of the woods just yet with the way Maranatha was loading the bases. Changes were made in the pitching circle, and while Maranatha still got some runners on base, they were unable to earn another run for the remainder of the game.

The Blue Angels pulled farther ahead to achieve their eight point edge over Maranatha in the sixth inning, leading to their eventual 12-3 victory.
--

SOUND BITE
"I'm very proud of our girls in their effort to keep fighting all the way to the finish," said Coach Thompson after the games. "It's a testament to their character to keep battling and push Mount Mary as far as they did. We had opportunities - we loaded the bases a few times today and took advantage of scoring chances, so I'm very pleased and encouraged with the team's efforts. There are a lot of positives to take away."

--

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 1-11 and 2-15 at Mount Mary on April 11, 2024
• Series: Mount Mary now leads the all-time series against Maranatha 52-20

OPPONENTS

• Mount Mary competes in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NCAA Dlll)
• Mount Mary also competes in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference
• Mount Mary finished the 2023 season with a record of 10-25

NEXT

The Sabercats travel to Glendale, Wisconsin to face Mount Mary in another double-header on Saturday, April 20, at 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. Details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.