LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Teddy Haugen was on fire this afternoon, leading the Sabercats to a 6-0 win over Viterbo while pitching the first no-hitter in 20 years for Maranatha Baseball.
It was the second career win for Haugen, whose four strikeouts helped him snap an 8-game Viterbo winning streak and give the Sabercats their second win of the season in the split twinbill. Cameron Curcuro had the winning putout after notching his second career home run, and Emerson Pease recorded a season-high 3 hits as the Sabercats rounded out the doubleheader in style.
OVERVIEW
- Results:
- Maranatha 4-16 Viterbo
- Maranatha 6-0 Viterbo
- Venue: Copeland Park, La Crosse, Wis.
- Location: La Crosse, Wis.
- Records: MBU (2-7), VU (12-6)
STORY
Viterbo got right down to business in the opener, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning for a strong opening statement. The V-Hawks added a fifth run in the second, and the Sabercats tried to answer in the third, scoring their first run some heads-up baserunning by Emerson Pease. Maranatha added two more runs in the fifth, courtesy of RBI singles from Jonathan Jeske and Judson Martin, but by that time, the V-Hawks had put the game out of reach with a 6-run explosion in the bottom of the fourth.
Martin added another RBI single in the seventh, but it was simply a consolation as the V-Hawks sealed out the win 16-4.
Then came the no-hitter.
Haugen got things started by making it easy for the defense behind him, and then recorded his first strikeout of the day in the second inning when he fanned Roberto Echevarria.
The game shifted in the fourth, when the Sabercats scored three runs off of four hits, highlighted by a two-run homer from the bat of Curcuro. Curcuro's blast was the second home run of his career, and it shot life into the Sabercats in what was otherwise a pitchers' duel. Haugen gained even more momentum with a three-up, three-down showing in the bottom of the fifth, and when the Sabercats scored three more run in the sixth, the win and the no-hitter were locked in the Sabercats' sights.
The Sabercats posted their second big inning of the day by making the most of two bases-loaded situations. Judson Martin reached on a fielder's choice for his third RBI of the day, and then a Viterbo miscue off the bat of Jeske allowed two more Sabercats to cross home plate.
Haugen grabbed two more strikeouts in the bottom of the inning, and the final out came from Curcuro, who stepped on second base after cleanly fielding a grounder.
It was the first no-hitter for Maranatha since Eric Stanley tossed a no-no against Pillsbury in April of 2005.
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STATS
OPPONENTS
- Viterbo competes in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA)
NEXT
The Sabercats begin their spring trip with a 9-inning game against University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis on Monday at 7:00 P.M. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.
