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Whitman Sweeps Vikings on Opening Day

Photo courtesy of Ashley Radloff

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Bethany Baseball team opened up the 2016 season on Sunday against Whitman College under the lights at the Kino Sports Complex.

• In the first game of the season, Whitman defeated the Vikings 20-18.
• Whitman earned the sweep over the Vikings, winning the second game of the DH by a final of 14-4

 
Whitman College 20, Bethany Lutheran 18
Whitman and Bethany combined for 38 runs scored in a game that lasted over three hours and 30 minutes. The Vikings opened up the top half of the first inning scoring six runs on five hits followed by another run in the top of the third inning to take a 7-0 lead over Whitman. In the bottom half of the third, the Vikings defense suffered a few costly errors leading Whitman to score nine runs on three hits.
 
From the fourth inning on, Whitman and Bethany scored a combined 22 runs to go along with 30 hits which resulted in a variety of pitching changes and extended innings.
 
Sophomore Trent Saharek (San Clemante, Calif.) led the Vikings with four hits, three runs scored and two RBI's. Sophomore Kevin Harris (El Paso, Texas) started in center field for the Vikings and finished game one with three hits, three RBI's and two runs scored. Also recording two hits for the Vikings was Nick Caldeen (Blaine, Minn.), Drew Quame (Eagle Lake, Minn.), and Danny Kneeland (Windom, Minn.). Those three combined for six RBI's on the game. Collin Risting (Eagle Lake, Minn.) suffered the mound loss for Bethany.
 
Whitman College 14, Bethany Lutheran 4
In the second game of the doubleheader, it was Whitman scoring early and often in the contest to defeat the Vikings. The visiting team on the scoreboard logged eight runs in the first two innings of action to take an early control of the game. Harris kept his offensive surge alive in game two, finishing with two hits, two RBI's and one run scored.
 
Cody Leitner (Red Wing, Minn.) took the loss for Bethany, going five innings in his first start of the young season.
 
Bethany (0-2) returns to the diamond on Monday afternoon against Wesleyan College in a double header starting at 2:30 p.m. Fans can stay up-to-date with all the action happening from Tucson by visiting www.blcvikings.com and following @BLCvikings on Twitter.