MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran baseball team had a big day at the plate on Saturday, defeating Northland 11-4. With the win the Vikings move to 8-7 overall and 6-0 in the UMAC while the LumberJacks fall to 1-12 overall and 0-5 in the conference.
After making two straight outs to open the bottom of the first, three straight singles from the Vikings and a wild pitch from Northland helped plate two runs to open the scoring.
They would strike once again in the second, using small ball to plate the innings first run before a
Josh Robb RBI triple followed by a sac fly would bring home two more and make the score 5-0.
Northland would lead off the third with a home run before plating another run in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI single to make the score 5-2 headed to the bottom of the fifth.
Aidan Russell would then notch RBI's in back-to-back innings, launching a solo shot to center in the bottom of the fifth before an RBI on a fielder's choice in the sixth.
Holding a 7-2 lead, the Vikings would run into some trouble in the eighth, as five straight hits from the LumberJacks would produce a pair of runs and leave the bases loaded with nobody out.
Jackson Huiras would then get a double play ball with the Vikings cutting down the runner at home before a groundout to short ended the inning and left things at 7-4.
In the bottom fo the eighth inning, Russell would notch a sacrifice fly to make the score 8-4, before
Liam Peterson stepped up and hit a no doubt two-run home run to bring the tally to 10-4.
Matt Verdugo then stepped to the plate after Peterson and he sent one over the left field fence for the first home run of his collegiate career as the Vikings led 11-4 headed to the ninth.
After a long eighth inning, Huiras would lock it down in the ninth, allowing just one hit and striking out the side to secure the win.
The Vikings had 15 hits in the contest, with Russell, Peterson, and Verduo each tallying three to lead the charge.
Trent Ash got the start on the mound for Bethany, going six innings and striking out eight while allowing two runs.
Bethany will be back in action next Friday when they take on North Central in Coon Rapids at 3 p.m.
