Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Tucson, Ariz. – Bethany’s first two games of the spring trip in Arizona did not go as planned. BLC fell to Swarthmore 5-6 in the first game and 4-13 in the second contest.
 
Game One (L 5-6) Box Score
Aaron Siefken (Lone Rock, Iowa/Iowa Central CC) got his first loss of the season giving up five runs on nine hits in five innings. All five of those runs came in the bottom of the third. Freshman Dylan McCormick (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) came in for relief and gave up one run on one hit.
 
The Vikes scored two runs in the top of the fourth. Siefken had an RBI on a double batting in Travis Fisher (Cedar, Minn./St. Francis) who reached on a single to the shortstop. Tommy Kramer (Blooming Prairie, Minn./Rochester CC) batted in Siefken on a single to second base.
 
In the fifth Casey Woodside (Albert Lea, Minn./Minnesota-Crookston) and Clint Aretz (NYA, Minn./Ridgewater CC) reached after being hit by a pitch. Dylan Gass (Bird Island, Minn./BOLD) hit a sac bunt to advance the runners. Adam Gieger (Mankato, Minn./Immanuel Lutheran) got the RBI on a ground out. BLC got on the board again in the sixth. Sam Stier (Austin, Minn./Pacelli) doubled and Lucas Herd (Gaylord, Minn./Sibley East) singled through the right side to allow Stier to score. Bethany scored one in the seventh but needed two runs to extend the game into extra innings. Bethany’s score in the seventh came off of Siefken’s double.
 
The Vikings scored five runs on seven hits and left ten on base. Swarthmore had six runs on 10 hits and left seven on base. Swarthmore had one error, Bethany had none.
 
Game Two (L 4-13) Box Score
The Vikings came out swinging scoring four in the first inning. Bethany kept the lead until the top of the fifth when Swarthmore tied the game. In the top of the seventh Swarthmore scored nine runs to seal the victory.
 
Fisher started on the mound giving up four runs on two hits and walked five batters. Philip Wessberg (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) came in for an inning and two thirds. He allowed two hits, no runs and struck out three batters. Eric Kropp (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) came in for two third innings. Kropp gave up eight runs on four hits. Alex Robideau (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) pitched the final two third innings allowing one run on three hits.
 
Bethany’s scoring in the first started with a single by Herd, he advanced to second on a wild pitch to put him in scoring position. Woodside singled for an RBI. Geiger then doubled down the left field line to bat in Woodside. Siefken came up to the plate and hit a home run for two RBI.
 
Swarthmore and Bethany each had an error. The Vikings had four runs on eight hits with eight left on base. Swarthmore had 13 runs on 11 hits with 12 left on base.
 
Bethany will take on St. John’s tomorrow. The doubleheader will start at 12 p.m. (CST)