MANKATO, Minn. - Bethany baseball (9-2, 3-0 UMAC) claimed all three games of its UMAC series against Martin Luther after a decisive 11-3 win Sunday at ISG Field.
Martin Luther took an early 2-0 lead in the first but the Vikings answered immediately in the bottom half. Jayden Knutson and Xander Meissner both walked, and Gary Swann was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Two batters later, Yunior Pena Torres sent the ball over the left field fence for a grand slam and a 4-2 lead.
The Knights got one back in the third but that was it for the visitors. Swann hit a two-run homer in the bottom half for his fourth of the season, making it 6-3. The Vikings then plated four runs in the fourth, three of which were unearned after three MLC errors. The final run came in the seventh as Joshua Miller scored on a wild pitch.
Adryen Tietz improved to 2-0 on the mound after five innings of work. He allowed three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Seven different Bethany pitchers closed out the final four frames. Jayden Kopp led at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with an RBI, double, and a stolen base.
Bethany continues its home stand Tuesday afternoon against Saint John's (9-4, 0-0 MIAC) for a non-conference doubleheader.
