MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran baseball team hosted UW-Superior for a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon and dropped the first contest 5-1 before falling in the second 7-3. With the losses the Vikings fall to 7-8 overall and 3-3 in the UMAC, while the Yellowjackets move to 10-9 overall and 6-1 in the conference.
UW-Superior 5 – 1 Bethany Lutheran
In game one of the doubleheader the Yellowjacket offense got things going in the second inning, as Ben Rhodes would start his day with a two-run home run to left. Superior would play small ball in the top of the third to add another run and make the score 3-0.
The scoring then halted until the top of the fifth, when the Yellowjackets would push Viking starter Gavin Jacobsen from the game thanks to two unearned runs to take a 5-0 lead. John Lutzi would come on in relief and strike out the final batter of the inning to get out of the threat.
In the bottom of the sixth the Vikings got their first real threat of the game with Liam Peterson reaching on an error and Matt Verdugo singling to right center to give the Vikings first and third with two outs. UW-Superior would manage to get out of the jam though with a running catch in foul territory to end the inning.
With Lutzi continuing to cruise Bethany would finally break through in the eighth. Izaak Stevens and Will Carlson would each single to start the inning with a throwing error on Carlson's hit putting runners at first and third with no outs. Aidan Russell would continue the rally, knocking a base hit to right to plate the first Viking run of the contest and giving them runners at first and second. After a Bethany lineout Matt Verdugo would knock a single to right, but a perfect throw from the right fielder cut Carlson down at the plate for the second out of the inning. Ben Hopper then found a barrel, but hit a line drive straight to center field to end the inning.
The Vikings would then go down 1-2-3 in the ninth to give Superior the victory.
Verdugo led Bethany at the plate in this one with two hits while also drawing a walk.
Jacobsen suffered the loss on the mound, going 4 2/3 innings and allowing three earned runs while striking out eight. Lutzi went the remaining 4 1/3 innings allowing no runs and two hits while striking out six.
UW-Superior 7 - 3 Bethany
In game two it was once again Superior getting on the board first, getting a run in the first inning thanks to a double followed by a single down the left field line. The Yellowjackets would again strike in the third inning, racking up five straight hits with one out to plate four more runs and a take a 5-0 lead after three innings.
To start the fourth inning for the Vikings, Izaak Stevens would walk and be bunted over by Vaughn Pouncy. Brent Fowler paid off the decision with a ground-rule double to left, followed by Eli Fest knocking an RBI single to score Fowler and cut the lead to 5-2 after four.
After a Hunter Pearce walk in the fifth, Hopper would then bloop a double down the left field line to get runners to second and third with one out. After a strikeout, Pouncy would step up and deliver an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-3 heading into the sixth. The Yellowjackets would get some much-needed insurance in the next half-inning, plating two runs thanks to a Bethany error to take a 7-3 lead.
Over the final four innings the Vikings would get a base runner on in each frame, but couldn't take advantage as Superior held on for the win.
Fowler led the attack at the plate with two of the Vikings five hits in the contests. Bethany drew eight walks and had three hit batters in the game with Stevens and Russell each gaining two free passes.
Brody Curtiss suffered the loss on the hill, with Brad Bickmann, Conner Side, and Ty Vollmar coming in to allow no earned runs in the final 6 2/3 innings.
