QUICK HITS

• Result: MBU 2-10 Principia, MBU 3-8 Principia
• Venue: Principia College, Elsah, Ill.
• Attendance: 30, 25
• Record: Maranatha is now 1-19

THE LEAD

ELSAH, Ill. – Maranatha was competitive this evening but took two losses to the Principia College Panthers under the lights.

Taylor Thome continues her hot streak at the plate, as she once again recorded a hit in both games to extend her hitting streak to nine games. The rookie led Maranatha with three RBI and two doubles on the day.

THE STORY

This was the season finale for the Panthers, who had that factor as extra motivation to take care of business.

The Sabercats had their hands full on the day, as the Panthers showed right from the start that they came to close out the season in style. The hosts notched six runs through the opening two innings, taking advantage of their solid contact at the plate.

Maranatha had to wait until the fourth inning to come up with a reply. Not surprisingly, it was Thome who drove in the first run of the game for MBU. Thome's solid double brought home Megan Rasmussen, who had led off with a single to get things started. Quick baserunning from Harmony Bailey allowed her to score on the next play, as Kylee Zempel earned the RBI after grounding out to Schaefer, the Panther's pitcher.

To the Sabercats' chagrin, the Panthers pushed four runs across in the bottom of the fifth inning, which ended the game after five innings due to the run rule.

Rasmussen, Thome, and Tina Kolinski were the only players to record hits, as Leah Schaefer brought her A-Game to the circle, pitching all five innings for Principia.

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Game two was a closer call for the Panthers than the first game was, as the Sabercats were within one run going into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Thanks to a two-RBI double from Thome (who else?) in the first, the Sabercats stayed in the game through the first four innings, even though Principia put four runs on the board.

Bailey smashed an RBI triple in the fifth inning to plate Rasmussen, and the Sabercats were once again within striking distance late in the game.

But just like they did in the opener, the Panthers scored four late runs to seal the doubleheader sweep on their home campus.

Maranatha generated eight hits compared to just five for the Panthers in game two, but the hosts found an easier time of converting their hits to runs in the seven-inning contest.

THE STATS

Rasmussen and Kolinski co-led Maranatha in the hits category, as they each recorded three.

Leah Schaefer and Lauren Daugherty both had three hits and three RBI for Principia.

Bailey's triple was the only one of the day.

THE SOUND BITE

"We played really well in both games, with the exception of one inning," said Coach Rob Thompson after the game. "Taylor [Thome] continues to be very productive in the four spot in the lineup, and she is really focused right now. The girls stay strong even when we make mistakes. We'll keep pressing on and look forward to the games tomorrow against Blackburn."

PRINCIPIA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

• The Panthers are members of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, ranking seventh in the standings this season.
• With these two wins, the Panthers won six of their last 10 games.
• Schaefer recorded her eighth and ninth wins of the season today for Principia.

THE CALENDAR

The Sabercats will stay in Illinois for a 12 p.m. doubleheader at Blackburn tomorrow. Find the results at mbusabercats.com/composite