MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany Vikings cruised to a 10-4 opening round victory over the University of Northwestern in the opening round of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) postseason tournament.
 
The game got off to a fast start as the Eagles scored two runs in the top of the first and the Vikings responded with three runs of their own. The action slowed down for a few scoreless innings as the teams settled in. After the first, Cody Leitner found his rhythm on the mound and pitched six straight scoreless innings. The BLC offense then tacked on seven runs in the last four innings to put the game away.
 
Ross Beumer helped jumpstart the offense again in the fifth inning with a triple. Beumer then scored on a sac-fly by Grant Becher. BLC finished with a total of 13 hits, led by Nick Caldeen who was 2-4 with one run and three RBIs. Caldeen picked up three RBIs with a homer in the seventh. Mylo Hommes also homered for the Vikings and finished the game 2-4 with two runs. Beumer, Diego Martiarena, and John Brown finished with two hits for the Vikings. Cody Leitner pitched eight strong innings, collecting four strikeouts and giving up six hits and three runs.
 
Up Next: #2 Bethany plays #1 St. Scholastica tomorrow at 3 PM. The Vikings and Saints split during the regular season and shared the UMAC championship.
 
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MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Dan DeWitt at 507-344-7856 or email ddewitt@blc.edu