ST. PETER, Minn. - The Bethany bats continued to shine Wednesday afternoon in a decisive 15-5, eight-inning win at Gustavus. The Vikings (21-5) put up crooked numbers in five frames, enforcing the run-rule for the sixth time in their past eight games.
Bethany plated the first run in the opening inning as Gary Swann singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Yunior Pena. Gustavus took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half after a couple hits and a sac fly, but the Vikings took the lead for good in the second with four runs. Jayden Knutson walked in a run with the bases load, Swann followed with a two-run single, and Xander Meissner hit a sac fly for a 5-2 advantage.
The visitors added a pair in the third after Vincent Curzie scored on an error and Kyle Carlberg came home on a wild pitch. Gustavus cut the lead to three in the bottom half with a two-run homer, but again, the Vikings had a response with two runs in the fourth. Jayden Kopp hit a sac fly to score Max Athmann, and Curzie scored on another wild pitch.
Caeden Willaert ended his day on the mound after four innings, allowing four runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts. He improved to 2-0 with the win.
In the fifth, Meissner hit an RBI double and Pena ensued with an RBI single for an 11-4 lead. The Gusties scored their final run of the game in the bottom half with an RBI double, but Nate Hoffman stranded two runners on base.
The Vikings tacked on three more runs in the seventh. Meissner hit an RBI single, Swann scored on a ground ball double play, and Athmann blasted his fourth home run of the season. Carlberg scored the 15th and final run in the eighth on a base hit by Josh Miller.
Tyson Reger tossed 1.2 innings of relief. He struck out one and didn't allow a hit. Easton Pratt closed out the final frame.
Meissner led at the dish, batting 3-for-4 with a run, three RBI, two doubles, and a sac fly.
Bethany is back to conference action Friday and Saturday for a three-game series at North Central.
