Photo Credit: Sara Eisenhauer, UMAC Office

DULUTH, Minn. – After missing the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Postseason Tournament a year ago, the Bethany Lutheran baseball program earned the No. 2 seed in the 2017 tournament, which began on Thursday afternoon at Wade Stadium.
 
The Vikings (20-17, 12-4) opened the postseason tournament against the University of Minnesota-Morris Cougars (18-18, 12-4), the No. 3 seed in this year's tournament. In the first game of the tournament, it was the Vikings moving on with a 7-4 comeback victory over the Cougars.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Vikings scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the first inning as Brandyn Olsen (Blue Earth, Minn.) and Trent Saharek (San Clemente, Calif.) had back-to-back hits.
• Minnesota-Morris got a run across in the top of the third inning to tie the game 1-1.
• The Cougars scored three runs on four hits in the top half of the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead on BLC.
• The Vikings wasted no time in getting those runs back, as nine batters came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth. BLC scored four runs on six hits to regain the lead and never look back.
• The Vikings pounded out 15 hits in the opening round of the UMAC tournament.
• The top four hitters in the Vikings lineup accounted for nine of the team's 15 total hits

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• John Brown (Lake City, Minn.) recorded three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI as the lead-off batter.
• Jordan Grams (Mankato, Minn.) had two hits and two RBI's as the Vikings shortstop.
• Brandyn Olsen and Trent Saharek finished the contest with two hits and one RBI apiece.
• Cody Leitner (Red Wing, Minn.) started on the hill for Bethany Lutheran. The left-hander pitched the game's first five innings to pick up his fifth win of the 2017 season.
• Alex Babcock (Elk River, Minn.) pitched the eighth and ninth inning to pick up the save, as Hunter Hamers (Foley, Minn.) gave up just one hit during his two innings of middle relief.

 
UP NEXT:
Head Coach Ryan Kragh and his 2017 squad will next play on Friday afternoon against the No. 1 seed St. Scholastica Saints. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Wade Stadium.
 
All tournament information including scores, recaps, team information and more can be found on the UMAC Baseball Tournament page. Keep up with all of the tournament action on Twitter and Instagram using #UMACchamp.
 
To stay current with Vikings athletics this season, continue to visit www.blcvikings.com and follow @BLCvikings on Twitter.
   
MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Lucas Herd at 507-344-7856 or email lucas.herd@blc.edu.