By: Bethany College Athletics
McPHERSON, Kan. (bethanyswedes.com) – The Bethany College Baseball team hit the road to take on Central Christian College for the second time this season. The first game of this non-conference series saw the Swedes win and the second game would have similar results. The Swedes would win by the score of 11-10.
This high scoring game started early as both teams scored 12 runs in the first 3 innings. Joseph Rivera hit a solo shot over the left field fence to give the Swedes the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Swedes offense would continue to put runs up in the top of the 2nd and 3rd inning as they were able to score 2 runs in each of the innings.
In the top of the 2nd inning, Jose Morales drew a walk and would be courtesy run by Andrew Massey. Caleb Copeland would be the next batter and would be hit by the pitch putting runners on first and second base. A couple of wild pitches would allow for Massey and Copeland to score. The top of the 3rd inning started similarly with Caleb Rodriguez leading off the inning with a hit by pitch and the next batter, Willard Frizzell, would also be hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second base. Rodriguez would move to 3rd base after tagging up on a fly ball and would eventually come around and score on an RBI single by Connor Crayton. Caleb Copeland would get an RBI for himself on a two out infield single that allowed Frizzell to score.
Central Christian would score 7 runs in the first two innings to give them a 5-7 lead heading into the top of the 5th inning. The Swedes would score 4 runs to take back the lead 9-7. Connor Crayton would start the rally with a single and then steal second base to get in scoring position. A walk by Caleb Copeland and hit by pitch to Noel Perez would load the bases for the Swedes. During Joseph Rivera‘s at bat a wild pitch moved runners up a base and would score Crayton. Rivera would follow the wild pitch with a 3-run home run, his 2nd of the game, and would allow the Swedes to cap off a 4 run inning.
Central Christian would not go down without a fight, scoring 2 runs in the 6th inning and 1 run in the 7th to take the lead 10-9. The Swedes would tie the game up at 10-10 in the 8th inning and would take the lead in the top of the 9th. In the 8th inning, David Espinal would have a pinch-hit single and would be ran for by Andrew Massey. Massey would steal second base with two outs and Noel Perez would come up with the clutch two-out-hitting to score Massey and tie the game up. In the top of the 9th, Luis Ramos would draw a lead off walk and would be pinch run for by Ashton Gatica. Gatica would advance to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Caleb Rodriguez. Willard Frizzell would hit a line drive single to left field that allowed Gatica to score from second base and give the Swedes the 11-10 lead which would be all they would need for the win.
Edwardo Vasquez started on the mound for the Swedes lasting 1.1 innings pitched on 1 hit, 5 runs (4 ER), 5 walks, and 1 strikeout. Bryant Baez would be first in relief lasting 3.2 innings pitched on 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts. Jacob Mallozzi and Judd McCall would come up huge for the Swedes holding CCC to only 1 run. Combined they would strike out 6 batters and only give up 2 hits. Judd McCall would pick up the win.
Up next…
The Bethany College Baseball team will hit the road to Wichita to take on Friends University with the series starting Friday, April 7th, at 2:00 pm and a double-header Saturday, April 8th, at 12:00 pm cst.
