TUCSON, Ariz. - Bethany baseball suffered its first loss in Arizona on Sunday, falling 15-5 to the University of La Verne.
La Verne jumped out to a three-run lead in the first on three hits and an error. The Leopards then went ahead 5-0 in the third after a solo homer and an RBI double. The Vikings answered in the bottom half with two runs. Max Athmann and Jayden Knutson both singled, and Xander Meissner drove them home.
La Verne went ahead 8-2 in the fifth on four hits and an error before the Vikings plated two in the bottom half. Athmann singled and scored on a single by Joshua Miller. Two batters later, Gary Swann hit a sac fly to score Knutson.
The Leopards added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh for an 11-4 lead. Bethany tacked on its final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh on an Andrew Prieve RBI double. The Leopards then put the game out of reach in the ninth with four more runs.
Bethany saw eight different pitchers on the mound. Tyson Reger suffered the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) in two innings. Knutson (2-3, 2 R) and Athmann (2-3, 2 R) led at the plate.
The Vikings conclude play in Tucson Monday morning against Wheaton.
