COON RAPIDS, Minn.—The Bethany Lutheran baseball team (17-13 overall, 13-6 UMAC) defeated North Central 11-1 in eight innings Friday to claim the weekend series opener.
 
The Vikings used a five-run second inning to jump to an early lead. They added one in the third and four in the fourth, which included junior Liam Peterson (Port Orchard, Wash.) stealing home.
 
The Rams plated their lone run in the sixth on an RBI single.
 
Freshman Aidan Russell (Gilbert, Ariz.) slugged a two-run homer over the right field fence in the eighth for the final tallies of the day.
 
Senior Brody Curtiss (Belle Plaine, Minn.) earned the win on the mound as he threw six innings and struck out nine.
 
Junior Ben Hopper (North Mankato, Minn.) was the only Viking with multiple hits as he was 2-4.
 
The two teams return to the field tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. for the doubleheader.