Box Score
Storm Lake, Iowa – The Bethany Lutheran baseball team finally hit the field today after cancelling play over the weekend due to bad weather and field conditions. In their first game back from the Florida spring training trip, the Vikings fell to Buena Vista 4-5 in 13 innings.
The Vikings allowed a variety of pitchers to take the mound for some throwing experience outside before the conference season gets underway. Getting the start was Cody Hallahan (Silver Lake, Minn./Minnesota State, Mankato) who pitched a total of three innings giving up two hits and one run. He struck out three of the 12 batters he faced. Aaron Siefken (Lone Rock, Iowa/Iowa Central CC) pitched six innings giving up six hits and three runs, he stuck out four and allowed two walks. Garrett Benson (Rochester, Minn./Rochester Mayo) then came in for an inning with one hit and one strikeout, Justin Kohls (Watertown, Minn./Dakota County CC) followed with two innings walking two and striking out two with no hits. Brad Lawson (Belle Plaine, Minn./Dakota County CC) who beautifully closed the game against Aurora in Florida gave up a run in the thirteenth.
Bethany Lutheran got on the board first when Travis Fisher (Cedar, Minn./St. Francis) reached after being hit by a pitch. Siefken then singled. Lawson hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Mitch Kleist (Eagle Lake, Minn./Mankato East) singled for an RBI, following by Tommy Kramer (Blooming Prairie, Minn./Rochester CC) hitting a sacrifice fly to score one more run before the inning ended.
In the sixth Lawson singled and Bethany Lutheran continued to play small ball with Dylan Gass (Bird Island, Minn./BOLD) bunting him over. Lawson advanced to third on a ground out, and Zach Herd (Gaylord, Minn./Sibley East) batted him in with a single. Another run came in the seventh when Fisher walked and Siefken reached on catcher’s interference. Lawson then singled for an RBI.
Bethany had 13 hits and committed no errors. Herd, Fisher, Siefken, and Lawson each had two hits.
The Vikings will play Presentation at home in the UMAC conference opener on Friday, April 1st at 3 p.m.
