MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran baseball team picked up two more wins over UW-Superior on Saturday, claiming wins by scores of 13-1 and 5-4. With the victories, the Vikings improve to 26-12 overall and 19-2 in the UMAC, while the Yellowjackets fall to 18-21 overall and 12-9 in conference play. The 19 conference wins mark a new program record for most in a season, surpassing the previous best of 18, set in both 2011 and 2023.

Hear from the Vikings
Here's what head coach Ryan Kragh had to say about the day.

Kragh: "I thought our offense finally stuck to the plan. Pitchers were great all weekend. At the end of he day it's back to work on Monday to find ways to get better."

Inside the Box Scores

Game One: Bethany 13, UW-Superior 1 (8 innings)

After Adryen Tietz allowed a leadoff double that eventually came around to score in the top of the first inning, the sophomore settled in and delivered four solid innings. He was backed up by the offense in the bottom half, as Gary Swann singled home Eli Fest before Aidan Russell launched a two-run shot to right to make it 3-1. Bethany wasn't done, though—Josh Robb walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a Malachi Santiago single to make it 4-1.

The Yellowjackets threatened in the second inning by putting a pair of runners on, but the threat was erased when Santiago made a great over-the-shoulder catch and gunned down a runner at the plate to preserve the 4-1 lead.

Xander Meissner added an RBI single in the third, and Santiago tacked on a sacrifice fly in the fourth to push the lead to 6-1.

Bethany's offense erupted for six more runs in the fifth, recording five hits and drawing three walks in the frame. Russell drove in the first run, followed by a wild pitch that allowed another to score. Seth Jones added a two-RBI double before Will Carlson knocked him in with a single. Eli Fest then capped the scoring in the inning by driving home another run to make it 12-1.

Sean Gamble pitched the final three innings in relief, striking out five and allowing no runs to earn the save. Tietz picked up the win, giving up just four hits in four innings of work.

Bethany totaled 17 hits in the contest. Swann led the way, going 4-for-4 and reaching base in all five plate appearances. Jones also had three hits and three RBI.

Game Two: Bethany 5, UW-Superior 4

The Vikings employed a completely different lineup in game two, along with a pitching-by-committee approach, as eight different players threw at least one inning.

Nate Hoffman got the start and was the only Viking to pitch more than one inning, tossing two scoreless frames to keep the game tied 0-0.

The Yellowjackets struck first in the third, using two hits and a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead. Bethany quickly responded in the bottom half. Kyle Carlberg reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a Xavier Palmer groundout to tie the game.

In the fourth, Cael Willaert ripped a one-out double down the left field line, and Juan Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to make it 2-1 Bethany.

Bethany's big inning came in the fifth. A walk and two UW-Superior errors allowed the first run to score and put runners on base. Palmer then laid down a bunt single, and a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. Vincent Curzie drove in one with a groundout, and Willaert singled in Palmer to make it 5-1.

UW-Superior answered in the seventh, using a single and hit batter to put two on before a two-RBI double cut the lead to 5-3. A groundout brought in another run, but a strikeout ended the threat with the Vikings still ahead 5-4.

That was all the Yellowjackets could manage, as Bethany held them scoreless in the final two innings to seal the win.

Willaert led Bethany at the plate with two hits, while Carlberg scored twice.

The Vikings will now play host to the conference tournament next weekend and serve as the host, as they'll take on Minnesota Morris in opening round action on Thursday, May 8th at 6:30 p.m.