Lindsborg, Kan. – The Bethany College Swedes Baseball team played host to the York University Panthers in the first of a three-game mid-week series on Phillip Anderson Baseball Field.
Both teams would showcase high-octane offenses as 20 total runs were scored in the first five innings of the contest, but the Swedes would find themselves down 11-9 going into the sixth.
Christian Gonzalez entered the contest to start the sixth inning and shutdown the Panthers striking out six batters and blanking the Panthers over three complete innings. Over that span, the Swedes would take the lead by way of a couple RBI singles from Adrian Rodriguez and Jack Crain and a RBI double from Manny Gonzalez to make it 12-11.
Wesley Martinez entered the contest to record a save, but a Panther got a hold of one and sent it over the outfield wall to knot it at 12.
Coach Ortiz made a move to enter Jesuel Cruz as a pinch hitter and man, did it pay off. Cruz rocketed one over left center for a lead-off walk off homerun in the bottom of the ninth sending the Swedes and crowd into a frenzy. Swedes win 13-12!
The Swedes tallied 17 hits in this one for the first time since April 16, 2024. Five Swedes would tally at least two hits with four Swedes recording three. Adrian Rodriguez and Manny Gonzalez each brought home four runners while Rodriguez and Fernando Bones touched home plate three time apiece.
Juan Melo drew the start in this one, but it was Christian Gonzalez who stole the spotlight going 3.0 innings with six strikeouts. Wesly Martinez got the win after pitching in the ninth inning and striking out two.
Up Next…
The Swedes will play host to the Evangel University Valor this weekend for a three-game series. Game one is set for Friday, February 27, at 12:00 PM for a nine-inning contest. Games two and three are a doubleheader set to begin on Saturday, February 28, at 12:00 PM. Game two will be a nine-inning contest followed by a seven-inning match.
