Box Score LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Bethany Lutheran baseball team mounted a valiant ninth-inning comeback on Saturday afternoon but ultimately came up just short, falling to Buena Vista 11-9. With the loss, the Vikings conclude their season at 29-14, while the Beavers advance to play an elimination game at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

Both teams' starters opened with scoreless first innings, and it was Nolan Spence who broke the deadlock with a solo home run to right-center field in the top of the second.

Bethany starter Sean Gamble ran into trouble in the bottom of the inning, hitting three batters to load the bases before surrendering a two-RBI single that gave BVU a 2-1 lead.

Gamble and Buena Vista starter Morgan Smith each delivered scoreless third and fourth innings, setting the stage for a big fifth inning from the Vikings.

Seth Jones jump-started the frame with a two-run homer to put Bethany back in front, 3-2. A BVU error allowed another runner to reach base, and Gary Swann followed with a single to put two on. Aidan Russell and Xander Meissner then each drove in a run, and a sacrifice fly from Spence capped the rally, giving Bethany a 6-2 lead.

Buena Vista responded with a run in the bottom half, taking advantage of a Bethany error to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Both teams were held scoreless in the sixth, and while Bethany couldn't add on in the seventh, BVU tied the game in the bottom half. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and a double to the right-field corner brought all three runners home, evening the score at 6-6 heading into the eighth.

Bethany was again held off the scoreboard in the top of the eighth, and the bottom of the inning turned disastrous for the Vikings. The defense committed four errors, and BVU capitalized with five runs on four hits. After recording an initial groundout, three consecutive Bethany errors opened the floodgates for the Beavers.

Trailing 11-6 entering the ninth, the Vikings saw their first batter strike out, but then rallied with three straight singles. A bases-loaded walk by Russell brought in a run, followed by a sacrifice fly from Meissner. Back-to-back walks to Spence and Josh Robb plated another run, making it 11-9. However, with the bases still loaded, the BVU second baseman fielded a ground ball up the middle and stepped on second base to end the game.

Fest led the Vikings with three hits, while Swann added two.

Gamble took the loss on the mound, going six innings and allowing five earned runs on four hits.