ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran baseball team played in a win or go home game on Friday morning against Northwestern and once again played an extra innings contest, eventually falling to the Eagles 8-3 in 13 innings. With the loss the Vikings conclude their season at 20-13 while UNW moves to 20-22 and will continue play this afternoon.

Gavin Jacobsen got the start on the mound for Bethany and was dealing early, striking out eight batters in the first three innings to keep Northwestern scoreless. Unfortunately for the Vikings, Nick Drinken of the Eagles was just as efficient as he set down the first 10 hitters he faced.

Malachi Santiago would finally give Bethany their first baserunner in the fourth inning with a single, before Nolan Spence would step up with two outs a few batters later and blast a two-run home run to left center to give Bethany the 2-0 lead.

Jacobsen would keep the Eagles scoreless through his stint on the hill and Spence would give the southpaw an extra insurance run with an RBI single in the sixth to make the score 3-0.  

Northwestern would get into the Bethany bullpen in the seventh inning and do so with success, with a pair of hits and some small ball producing a pair of runs and cutting the lead to 3-2.

Trent Ash would then come on in relief in the eighth inning with a one run lead, with Northwestern able to get to him early with a double and single to plate a run and even the game at three apiece after eight innings.

Both teams would then go scoreless over the next few frames with Bethany coming to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to walk it off. They would get a runner on second with just one out after an Aidan Russell single and sac bunt, but a pair of strikeouts would end the threat and send the game to extras.

After Ash went 1-2-3 in the top of the tenth inning, the Vikings would once again have a chance to win it in the bottom. They would open the inning with a hit from Connor Jones before a failed bunt attempt left them with one out. A stolen base would put a runner in scoring position before a strikeout with the pitch in the dirt followed by an errant throw to first allowed the batter to reach and the runner on second to advance to third. A failed suicide squeeze would give the Eagles their second out of the inning before a flyout to center field would get them out of the jam and end the inning.

Bethany would get another runner to third base in the 11^th inning but leave him stranded, with Ash continuing to put down the Eagle hitters to keep the contest going.

After a quick bottom of the 12^th from the Vikings, the Eagles would finally break through in the top of the 13^th. They would use two hits, three errors, and two free passes to plate five runs and take a commanding lead with just three outs to get.

Spence would get a single in the bottom of the 13^th inning but that is all Bethany would get as they would fall to the Eagles 8-3.

Jacobsen turned in a great start for Bethany, working six innings and striking out 11 while allowing three hits.

Ash took the loss in relief, tossing 5.1 innings and striking out six while allowing two earned.

Spence led Bethany at the plate with three hits on the day, while Santiago and Jones each added two.