MANKATO, Minn.-- The Bethany Lutheran baseball team (8-10, 4-3 UMAC overall) opens a seven game homestand when it welcomes Martin Luther (2-14, 2-4) for a single nine-inning game Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Vikings are third in the UMAC standings and the Knights are fifth.

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The Series
BLC owns the series lead at 44-7 against MLC which includes the last 12-straight.

Bethany Lutheran
Junior Matt Verdugo (Arvada, Colo.) leads the team with his .350 batting average and 14 RBIs. Classmate Vaughn Pouncy (St. Paul), senior Brent Fowler (Berthoud, Colo.) and junior Liam Peterson (Port Orchard, Wash.) join him above .300 at .339, .313, and .302, respectively.

Senior Adam Fjerstad (Hayfield, Minn.) leads the pitching staff with his 1.86 ERA and 31 Ks.

Career Record Watch
Senior Ross Beumer (Northfield, Minn.) is tied for second in runs (130), second in triples (13) and RBIs (109), third in doubles (36), fifth in hits (160), eighth in games started (120), and tied for ninth in home runs (10).

Senior Jake LaBerge (Round Rock, Texas) is fourth in home runs (12), and tied for fourth in doubles (34).

Fjerstad is tied for third in saves (4), third in strikeouts (152) and appearances (44), fourth in games started (26), and tied for ninth in wins (11).

Season Record Watch
Freshman Carter Benz (Wabasso, Minn.) and Fjerstad are tied for 10th in saves (1).

Beumer is tied for seventh in triples (4).

Martin Luther
Mason Cox leads the team at the plate with his .510 average. Zach Klement joins him above .300 at .345. Sam Rodriguez leads the starting pitchers with his 8.83 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched.