LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Bethany Lutheran baseball team matched No. 12 UW-La Crosse in hits on Friday morning, but couldn't deliver the timely base knocks needed as the Eagles staved off the Vikings' upset bid in the opening round of the NCAA Regional with a 4-2 win. With the loss, Bethany falls to 29-13 on the year and will play in an elimination game tomorrow at 11 a.m. against the loser of Buena Vista vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

Postgame Press Conference

After a leadoff single from Eli Fest in the top of the first, a double play from UWL quickly ended the threat. Trent Ash took the mound for the Vikings in the bottom half and worked around a leadoff error and stolen base, stranding a runner at second thanks to a pair of strikeouts and a sliding grab in center from Fest.

Bethany threatened again in the top of the second as Nolan Spence and Josh Robb each singled, but the Vikings once more came up empty, unable to push a run across.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out before a sacrifice fly brought in the game's first run.

After a quick 1-2-3 inning from the Vikings in the top of the fourth, the Eagles added to their lead in the bottom half. A single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs, and a clutch double to left-center cleared them, extending the lead to 4-0.

Bethany responded in the top of the fifth with a two-out rally. Will Carlson singled, and Fest followed with a base hit up the middle that was mishandled, allowing Carlson to come around and score to make it 4-1.

In the bottom half, Ash found himself in trouble again as UWL put two runners in scoring position with just one out, but the sophomore escaped the jam with a strikeout and groundout.

Both teams were scoreless through the sixth and seventh innings. The Vikings mounted another threat in the top of the eighth. With a runner on and two outs, Spence singled up the middle, and Robb followed with a line drive down the left field line to bring in a run and put runners on first and second. A walk loaded the bases, and Cael Willaert came in to pinch-hit. The sophomore jumped on the first pitch and sent a towering fly ball to left-center, but it was hauled in to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, UWL put a runner in scoring position with a one-out double, but Robb made a catch deep in right field and fired a perfect throw to third to complete the double play and send the Vikings back to the plate.

Bethany couldn't muster a ninth inning rally though, as they went down in order in the ninth and the Eagles held on for the 4-2 win.

Fest, Spence, Robb, and Carlson all had two hits in the contest to lead the Vikings 10-hit effort.

On the mound, Ash went six innings and allowed four runs while striking out seven. Ethan Lung came in and tossed two scoreless frames of relief, striking out one.